Lipid profile of adult Nepalese population.

Dyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors of coronary artery disease. Present study was aimed to find out the lipid profile of non-diabetic adult Nepalese population (n = 454; M: 180 and F: 274; Mean age: 42.8+/-15.5 years). The mean +/- SD (mg/dl) level of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) was 184+/-50.7, 147.4+/-79.9, 111.9+/-42.0 and 45.0+/-11.7, respectively. All lipid levels except LDL were higher among 41 to 60 years age group while LDL was higher among participants aged >60 years. Desirable TC level (<200 mg/dl) was found in 78.0% of the total population while the normal TG (<150 mg/dl) and LDL (<129 mg/dl) was found in 61.5% and 72.0%, respectively. High TC (> or =240 mg/dl) and very high TG (> or =500 mg/dl) and LDL (> or =190 mg/dl) were found in 8.8%, 2.6% and 5.8% of participants, respectively. Higher HDL level (40 mg/dl) was seen in 60.0% of the total population. Higher percentage of women than men (65.3% vs 52.2%) had >40 mg/dl HDL level. Nornal lipid profile (TC <200 mg/dl, TG <150 mg/dl, LDL <129 mg/dl, HDL >40 mg/dl) was seen in 26.7% of participants, and was higher in females (32.1%) than in males (18.3%). The overall mean cholesterol level was within normal limit. Mean LDL level showed increasing trend with age and about one fourth of participants had normal lipid profile.

Prevalence of rheumatic and congenital heart disease in schoolchildren of Kathmandu valley in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease remains a major public health problem in developing countries with its very high prevalence. Rheumatic and congenital heart disease are significant causes of morbidity and mortality among Nepalese schoolchildren. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of rheumatic and congenital heart disease among schoolchildren of the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 9420 students, of whom 4466 were male and 4954 were female, with ages ranging from 5 to 18 years. A clinical survey was conducted by the examining team in selected schools, and involved answering standard questionnaires. A total of 83 children were suspected of having heart disease. Out of these 83 children, 23 were confirmed to have heart disease; 11 had rheumatic heart disease, and 12 congenital heart disease, giving a prevalence of 1.2/1000 and 1.3/1000, respectively. The commonest cardiac lesions were mitral regurgitation in the rheumatic heart disease group, and atrial septal defect in the congenital heart disease group. A higher prevalence of congenital heart disease was detected in females. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease among schoolchildren of Kathmandu is 1.2/1000 and 1.3/1000, respectively, with mitral regurgitation and atrial septal defect being the commonest lesions.