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Samaha et al. Hyperlipidemia in Lebanon

interval of 95% (q = 0.3693, q = 5.991, α = 0.05). differences.
2
2
α
c
Table 2 also shows that the mean levels of cholesterol Interestingly, LDL-C as well as TG levels showed a
and HDL-C did not significantly differ between both statistically significant increase with age in both males
genders. It is interesting to note that whereas mean and females (P < 0.05 for TG and P < 0.001 for LDL-C).
values of LDL-C were significantly higher in females TG levels were higher in males in the two age groups
than males (140 vs. 123; P < 0.001), TG exhibited an [15-35] and [35-55], whereas LDL-C were higher in
opposite profile, being higher in males than females females in these two age groups. Interestingly, in the
(177.6 vs. 150.8; P < 0.001). ≥ 55 age group, there was no significant difference in
either of LDL-C or TG levels [Table 3].
Because gender did not significantly contribute to the
levels of total cholesterol or HDL-C, we then focused The prevalence of high levels of cholesterol, TG or
our analysis on TG and LDL-C levels and sought to LDL-C in the different dietary or lifestyle-related groups
determine if age contributes to the observed gender is shown in Table 4.

Table 3: Means of serum levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in males and
females according to different age groups

Age interval (years) Gender/number Triglycerides level LDL level
Male/189 132.9 ± 117.2 109.7 ± 37.3
[15-35] Female/197 96.4 ± 48.6 123.9 ± 36.4
P value < 0.001 0.0001
Male/211 183.1 ± 114.6 118.4 ± 39.5
[35-55] Female/190 159.0 ± 89.0 147.6 ± 45.5
P value < 0.001 < 0.001
Male/102 228.5 ± 125.9 142.9 ± 54.8
≥ 55 Female/114 210.3 ± 122.1 151.2 ± 46.4
P value 0.283 0.23
Data presented as mean ± SD. LDL: low density lipoprotein; HDL: high density lipoprotein

Table 4: Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, high triglyceridemia and high LDL-C among individuals with
different lifestyle and dietary habits
Percent of Prevalence of Prevalence of high Prevalence of
population (%) hypercholesterolemia (%) triglyceride (%) high LDL (%)
Gender
Male 50.05 51.3 56.6 36
Female 49.99 48.7 43.3 64
P < 0.01 P < 0.01 P < 0.01
Cigarette
Non-smokers 62.4 45.12 40.6 36.6
Smokers 37.6 70.02 50.4 63.4
P < 0.01 P = 0.002 P < 0. 01
Physical activity
Sedentary 68.4 64.4 89.4 79.1
Active 31.6 32.9 10.6 20.9
P < 0. 01 P < 0.001 P < 0.001
Fatty meat
≥ 3 servings/day 50.1 72.1 60.2 53.3
< 3 servings/day 49.3 37.4 39.8 46.5
P < 0.01 P < 0.001 P = 0.01
Whole milk
≥ 1 servings/day 91.9 55.8 98.2 84.7
< 1 serving/day (on average) 8.1 46.9 1.8 15.3
P = 0.122 P < 0.001 P < 0.001
Skimmed milk
≥ 1 serving/day 10 55.3 4.5 15.3
< 1 serving/day 90 45.9 95.5 84.7
P = 0.087 P < 0.001 P < 0.001
Eggs
≥ 4-7 servings/week 74 58.1 80.5 77.9
< 3 servings/week 26 43.9 19.5 22.1
P < 0.001 P < 0.001 P < 0.001
Fruits and vegetables
≥ 3 servings/day 98 45.5 1.8 3.5
< 3 servings/day 2 56.4 98.2 96.5
P = 0.33 P < 0.001 P < 0.001
LDL-C: low density lipoprotein cholesterol
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