ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recently, many large epidemiological studies revealed that total cholesterol (TC)/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio is a better predictor of risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein-cholesterol as a single factor. Our study is designed to examine the factors associated with TC/HDL-C ratio in healthy Korean adults. METHODS: The study involved 6,584 adults who visited the SNUH Health Promotion Center from March 1997 to February 1998. We examined their demographic data, past medical history, smoking habits, alcohol intake and exercise through a questionnaire. Serum lipid levels were checked after 14 hours of fasting. We analyzed the data by analysis of covariance and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: 3,774 healthy adults (men 1,976, women 1,798) were statistically analyzed. The average TC/HDL-C ratio was 4.2+/-1.2 in men, 3.6+/-1.0 in women. TC/HDL-C ratio was highest in over age 70(4.4+/-1.3), and was increased as BMI, the amount of smoking increased, and was decreased as alcohol intake increased in men. In women, TC/HDL-C ratio was increased as BMI increased, and was lower in exercise groups(3.5+/-1.0) than inactive group(3.7+/-1.0), but there was no difference according to the smoking amount. Regression analyses revealed a positive correlation between TC/HDL-C ratio and BMI, smoking(P<0.05, respectively), and a negative correlation between TC/HDL-C ratio and alcohol intake(P<0.05) in men. In women, there was a positive correlation between TC/HDL-C ratio and BMI, age(P<0.05, respectively), and a negative correlation between TC/HDL-C ratio and exercise amount and alcohol intake(P<0.05, respectively). In both men and women, BMI showed the highest correlation with TC/HDL-C ratio. CONCLUSIONS: BMI, smoking, exercise as well as sex and age are related to TC/HDL-C ratio. Thus, primary physicians should consider correction of these factors.