Prevalence of Dyslipidemias in Three Regions in Venezuela: The VEMSOLS Study Results

• Main Authors: Juan P. González-Rivas, Ramfis Nieto-Martínez, Imperia Brajkovich, Eunice Ugel, Alejandro Rísquez
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC)
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia
• Subjects: Dyslipidemias / epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases; Risk Factors; Stroke / mortality; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0066-782X2018000100030&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract Background: The prevalence of dyslipidemia in multiple regions of Venezuela is unknown. The Venezuelan Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (VEMSOLS) was undertaken to evaluate cardiometabolic risk factors in Venezuela. Objective: To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia in five populations from three regions of Venezuela. Methods: During the years 2006 to 2010, 1320 subjects aged 20 years or older were selected by multistage stratified random sampling from all households in five municipalities from 3 regions of Venezuela: Lara State (Western region), Merida State (Andean region), and Capital District (Capital region). Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analysis were obtained from each participant. Dyslipidemia was defined according to the NCEP/ATPIII definitions. Results: Mean age was 44.8 ± 0.39 years and 68.5% were females. The prevalence of lipids abnormalities related to the metabolic syndrome (low HDL-c [58.6%; 95% CI 54.9 - 62.1] and elevated triglycerides [39.7%; 36.1 - 43.2]) were the most prevalent lipid alterations, followed by atherogenic dyslipidemia (25.9%; 22.7 - 29.1), elevated LDL-c (23.3%; 20.2 - 26.4), hypercholesterolemia (22.2%; 19.2 - 25.2), and mix dyslipidemia (8.9%; 6.8 - 11.0). Dyslipidemia was more prevalent with increasing body mass index. Conclusion: Dyslipidemias are prevalent cardiometabolic risk factors in Venezuela. Among these, a higher prevalence of low HDL is a condition also consistently reported in Latin America.