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| Rühli FJ, Henneberg M, Schär DJ, Imhof A, Schleiffenbaum B, Woitek U. |
Swiss Med Wkly 2008;138:286–291
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| Original article Peer reviewed article |
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| Question under study: Affected
by individual life style, the total cholesterol serum level is a major morbidity
and mortality risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).
We present total cholesterol values and their possible aetiological factors
of young Swiss conscripts. Particularly, we study varying impact of these
factors depending on different levels of individual cholesterol. Methods: Male conscripts (n = 19,272) of the 2005 census of the conscripts have been examined, reflecting ca. 59% of a total Swiss male birth cohort. Quantile regression allows us to analyse responses of arbitrary quantiles with respect to variables of interest. Results: Eleven percent of all conscripts show clinically important increased total cholesterol levels. There is a major association of high individual cholesterol level with French regional language. The largest socio-economic subsample – agricultural and construction workers – show significantly higher individual cholesterol levels than employees in the industry sector and students, respectively. Conclusions: We were able to find that culture, as indicated by the mother tongue, and socioeconomic status as indicated by profession/vocation, influence individual total cholesterol levels while climate as indicated by altitude does not have an influence on cholesterol levels. Such a broad screening programme offers a unique opportunity to target persons at high-risk for CVD morbidity and mortality already early in life. |
Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Anatomical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich Institute for Empirical Research in Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich |
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Copyright © 2008 EMH Swiss Medical Publishers Ltd. |
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