Reduction of high cholesterol levels associated with younger age and longer education in a primary health care programme for cardiovascular prevention

Abstract

ObjectiveTo study possible social predictors for reduction of hyperlipidaemia in subjects offered lifestyle intervention in primary health care after an opportunistic screening. Setting. Primary health care in Sollentuna, Sweden.DesignFollow-up study of changes in high lipid levels in men and women aged 20–60 years participating in a voluntary screening and cardiovascular prevention programme.Subjects and main outcome measuresA total of 1904 individuals had a follow-up visit registered after a mean of 466 days. Men and women with raised lipid levels (serum cholesterol ≥6.5 mmol/l, and/or triglycerides ≥2.3 mmol/l) at baseline were compared with normolipidaemic participants. Data on social characteristics such as education, occupation, marital status, and income were collected from national censuses. Associations between socioeconomic factors and changes in lipid levels were studied.ResultsMen and women with hyperlipidaemia were generally (p<0.001) older (men 6–8 years, women 8–10 years) and less educated than normolipidaemic subjects. Significant predictors for reducing hypercholesterolaemia were younger age, OR 0.97 (0.95–1.00) for increasing age, and longer education, OR 0.47 (0.24–0.91) for low education (<9 years). Foreign-born subjects were more likely to achieve a high success rate in reducing hypercholesterolaemia, OR 3.43 (1.00–11.8), than the Swedish-born. No significant predictors were detected for reduction of high triglyceride levels.ConclusionA successful reduction of high cholesterol levels was associated with younger age and longer education in a primary health care-based programme for cardiovascular prevention.