Association of Smoking Status and High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol in Males in the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The patients with metabolic syndrome had shown low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and smoking had been reported to be an independent risk factor for low HDL-C. This study aimed to study the association of smoking status and low HDL-C in general population of Korea. METHODS: Frequency analysis and descriptive statistics for general characteristics and chi-square test for the association of smoking status and low HDL-C were used. Then, logistic regression analyses for the effect of smoking on low HDL-C and general linear method for HDL-C estimates were used. RESULTS: Univariate regression showed that smoking status showed an association with low HDL-C. Prevalence of low HDL-C was 29.4±0.3% of Korean males in their twenties or over, and low HDL-C possibilities of current and past-smokers compared with non-smokers were odds ratio 1.345 and 1.123 respectively. After adjustments with sociodemographic factors, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and age, the low HDL-C possibility of current-smokers was 1.328 times higher and for past-smokers was 0.892 times than non-smokers (P < 0.05). The HDL-C concentration of current-smokers was 1.009 mg/dL lower than non-smokers', whereas that of past-smokers' was 0.478 mg/dL higher than non-smokers'. HDL-C concentration decreased 0.922 mg/dL for every 1 unit of BMI increase and 0.080 mg/dL for every 1-year age increase (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this study using general population, HDL-C showed significant association with smoking status. The occupation, BMI and age also had significant associations. Conclusively, the possible strategies to maintain serum HDL-C include cessation of smoking, increase of physical exercise, and weight loss.