The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in a general practice population in Barbados - abstract

ABSTRACT

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in a general practice population in Barbados, and to determine whether hypercholesterolaemia is a public health problem for which screening would be worthwhile. A total of 498 patients (96 percent over 35 years) drawn from a general practice population of 15,000 patients, were studied. Two hundred and two (202) non-diabetic, non-hypertensives, 152 hypertensives, 123 diabetics and 21 hypertensive diabetics were selected, comprising every third patient in each diagnostic category to visit the clinic. One hundred and forty-two (28. percent) of all patients had a cholesterol level in the desirable range, 185 (37.1 percent) had a borderline high level, and 171 (34.4 percent) had a high-risk level of serum cholesterol. The prevalence of high-risk serum cholesterol was lowest in non-diabetic/non-hypertensive patients, and highest in diabetic hypertensives. The results suggest that the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in the Barbadian population is high and that screening is worthwhile (AU)