Decreasing cholesterol levels in the community--lifestyle change with statin?

BACKGROUND: The Lapinlahti 2005-2010 study was carried out to explore cardiovascular disease risk factors and changes in lifestyle in Lapinlahti residents in eastern Finland. Our aim was to analyse factors influencing the level of cholesterol in the community. METHODS: In 2005, 480 subjects aged 30-65 years underwent a complete health survey (baseline study) that consisted of a structured questionnaire and a health examination. The follow-up was carried out five years later in 2010. The present study population included 326 individuals who did not use lipid-lowering medication at the baseline. A trained research nurse measured weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure at the baseline and follow-up. Respectively, lifestyle factors (nutrition, exercise, smoking and alcohol use) were examined with a structured questionnaire. Each lifestyle item was valued as -1, 0 or 1, depending on how closely it fitted to the recommendations. Cholesterol level analyses at the baseline and follow-up were performed according to the protocol of the Kuopio University Hospital's medical laboratory. Based on their baseline cholesterol levels, the participants were divided into tertiles. The age- and sex-adjusted linear trend between the tertiles was tested. RESULTS: The change in cholesterol level was associated with lipid-lowering medication (P < 0.001). Lifestyle improvement was associated with the cholesterol level change but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.061), although the interaction of lipid-lowering medication and lifestyle change was associated with the change in cholesterol level (P = 0.018). In multivariate analysis, a favourable change in fat consumption (P = 0.007) and lipid-lowering medication (P < 0.001) were associated with decreasing cholesterol levels. CONCLUSIONS: At the population level, dyslipidaemia is one of the most easily modifiable risk factors of CHD. Lipid-lowering medication may have the most significant impact on cholesterol level in communities with primary health care with good coverage. On the other hand, the potential of health-promoting and population-based prevention strategies may be underused.

Low quality of life and depressive symptoms are connected with an unhealthy lifestyle.

BACKGROUND: The Lapinlahti 2005 study was carried out to explore cardiovascular disease risk factors, lifestyle and quality of life in Lapinlahti residents in eastern Finland. Our aim was to study the association between lifestyle and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the community. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study is based on the baseline data of the followed up (2005-2010) population-based cohort (N = 376, n of males = 184). A trained research nurse measured weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure. Self-reported HRQoL was measured using a 15D questionnaire. A BDI-21 inventory was used to assess the presence of self-reported depressive symptoms. Lifestyle factors (nutrition, exercise, smoking and alcohol use) were examined with a structured questionnaire. Each lifestyle item was valued as -1, 0 or 1, depending on how well it corresponded to the recommendations. Based on the index the participants were divided into three lifestyle sum tertiles: I = unhealthy, II = neutral and III = healthy. The age- and sex-adjusted linear trend between the tertiles was tested. RESULTS: The 15D score had a positive linear relationship with the lifestyle tertiles (P = .0048 for linearity, age- and sex-adjusted). Respectively, self-reported depressive symptoms were less frequent among subjects with a healthier lifestyle (P = .038). CONCLUSIONS: People who are expected to strive most to change their lifestyle have the lowest quality of life and psychological welfare, which should be taken into account in both clinical work and health promotion.