Main Article Content
Lipid profile of healthy adult Nigerians in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Abstract
Method: A prospective descriptive population survey was carried out among healthy adults residing in Port Harcourt. A total of ninety two adults were screened after obtaining informed consent. Weight, height, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid profile were measured. Results were analysed using simple statistical methods.
Results: A total of ninety two subjects were recruited into the study. Fourty seven (51.1%) of the subjects were males while fourty five (48.9%) were females. The age range of subjects was 24-59 years with mean of 38.84 ± 8.36 years. The mean BMI was 28.76 ± 5.91 Kg/m2. There was no significant statistical difference between the mean BMI for males and females. The mean fasting blood sugar, mean total cholesterol and mean LDL cholesterol were 4.45 ± 0.89 mmol/L, 4.76 ± 1.06 mmol/L and 3.65 ± 0.89 mmol/L. The mean total triglyceride was 1.02 ± 0.30 mmol/L while the mean HDL was 0.90 ± 0.25 mmol/L. There was an increase in total cholesterol with increasing age and an increase in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol with increasing social class. Subjects with total cholesterol above 6.5mmol/L constituted 31.52 % of study subjects. Subjects with BMI between 25-29 Kg/m2 made up 43.48% of subjects while 33.69% of subjects had BMI above 30Kg/m2.
Conclusion: A high mean total and LDL cholesterol values were observed among healthy adults in Port Harcourt. The prevalence of obesity was also found to be high. There is a need for public health action to address these findings especially as high serum cholesterol levels have a direct correlation with coronary artery disease. Further large scale urban survey of non communicable diseases in the country is therefore necessary at this time.
Keywords: lipid profile, healthy adults, Port Harcourt
Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 15(2) 2006: 137-140