Cholesterol distribution among adults in Nigeria: A descriptive cross-sectional study in a rural tertiary hospital

BackgroundThere is an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease in the Nigerian population, but very little known about the cholesterol distribution within subgroups of the general population. MethodsA cross-sectional study of adults was done in a tertiary hospital in the Southern region of Nigeria. Using results of blood tests over an 8-month period, the cholesterol distribution and prevalence of dyslipidaemias were determined. ResultsA total of 46.8% of patients had raised total cholesterol (mean total cholesterol 198.93mg/dl (SD 57.81)), 14.6% had raised low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (mean LDL-C 120.83mg/dl (SD 51.62)), and 27.9% of patients had raised triglycerides (mean triglycerides 128.83mg/dl (SD 75.26). Women had higher mean values than men, of total cholesterol (203.3mg/dl vs 193.4mg/dl), LDL-C (125.1mg/dl vs 115.5mg/dl), and non-HDL cholesterol (148.4mg/dl vs 141.1mg/dl). The 95th percentile values of total cholesterol and LDL-C in the general population were 294mg/dl (7.6mmol/L) and 205.7mg/dl (5.3mmol/L) respectively. ConclusionHypercholesterolaemia is highly prevalent in the Nigerian general population, with a higher prevalence in women compared to men. The 95th percentile identified is likely to represent the thresholds associated with elevated risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk within this population. What is already known on this topicThere is a rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related deaths in Nigeria, and a pressing need for targeted strategies and interventions to reduce this burden. However, there is lack of robust evidence on cholesterol distribution within subgroups of the Nigerian population. What this study addsThis study described the distribution of cholesterol concentration in Nigerian adults by sex and age groups, and also determined the cholesterol 95th percentile thresholds which are likely to be associated with elevated risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk within this population How this study might affect research, practice or policyEvidence from this study will aid appropriate targeting of interventions to reduce the burden of hypercholesterolaemia and consequent risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.