A survey on blood lipid levels among newborns and healthy inhabitants in urban Shanghai (2008–2009)

Background Dyslipidemia is considered one of the most important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Objective This study was designed to analyze the blood lipid levels of different age inhabitants in urban Shanghai in the 2000s and compare the results with those in the 1970s (1385 subjects), 1980s (3302 and 2399 subjects), and 1990s (3647 subjects). Methods Blood samples were collected from 2197 persons, as well as 200 newborns. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. Results The TG level in adults >20 years of age was remarkably greater than those in the 1990s, but the TC level changed little and the LDL-C level apparently decreased. The mean HDL-C levels in adult women were similar to those in the 1970s and significantly greater by approximately 10 mg/dL than those in the 1990s ( P 30 years of age were still low and were lower by about 10 mg/dL than the corresponding age groups in women. In adults aged 30–39, 40–49, and 50–59 years, the proportion of hypertriglyceridemia (TG levels ≥200 mg/dL) was 18.24%, 17.96%, and 21.88% in men and 2.70%, 7.08%, and 8.55% in women, respectively. Conclusion Currently, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-C in middle-aged men older than 30 years of age have become a growing problem.