Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of European Heart Journal, 44(25), 2305–2318. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad371 Dr. Seth S. Martin et al.
Points
- This research, conducted by the Global Diagnostics Network (GDN), examined lipid profiles from 17 countries across five continents, revealing significant variations in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels by region, gender, and age.
- The study found that in most countries, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels peaked in specific age groups, with females peaking at 50 to 59 years and males at 40 to 49 years.
- Mean total cholesterol levels ranged from 4.58 mmol/L in the Republic of Korea to 5.40 mmol/L in Austria, with several countries exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. Notably, North Macedonia had the highest prevalence of elevated LDL-C levels.
- The results highlight the global prevalence of atherogenic lipid levels and suggest that these disparities may result from genetic factors, testing methods, lifestyle choices, and medication usage.
- The study underscores the importance of data-informed policymaking and healthcare strategies to address the cardiovascular disease risk associated with lipid abnormalities on a worldwide scale.
Summary
This research seeks to rigorously examine the variations in lipid profiles across diverse geographical regions, aiming to enhance our understanding of cardiovascular risk factors and potential avenues for risk mitigation strategies. Lipids are pivotal in cardiovascular diseases, motivating this study to elucidate the global lipid profile landscape.
This inaugural collaborative report by the Global Diagnostics Network (GDN) presents an extensive evaluation of lipid distributions, drawing data from nine esteemed laboratory organizations conducting clinical laboratory testing across 17 countries spanning five continents. A cross-sectional methodology was employed, scrutinizing aggregated lipid data from individuals aged 20 to 89 years who underwent testing at GDN-affiliated laboratories between 2018 and 2020. The comprehensive analysis encompassed various parameters, including mean lipid levels, adherence to the World Health Organization’s total cholesterol risk threshold (<5.00 mmol/L, <193 mg/dL), and the distribution of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) within guideline-based categories.
This study, encompassing an impressive dataset of 461,888,753 lipid results, unveiled substantial variations in lipid profiles contingent upon geographical location, gender, and age. Notably, the analysis discerned age-related peaks in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels in most nations, with females peaking at 50 to 59 years and males at 40 to 49 years. Furthermore, significant disparities in mean total cholesterol levels were observed among different nations, ranging from 4.58 mmol/L (177.1 mg/dL) in the Republic of Korea to 5.40 mmol/L (208.8 mg/dL) in Austria. Several countries, including Japan, Australia, North Macedonia, Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, and Austria, reported total cholesterol levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold. Notably, North Macedonia exhibited the highest prevalence of elevated LDL-C levels (>4.91 mmol/L or >190 mg/dL), with 9.9% in females and 8.7% in males.
In conclusion, this pioneering research, underpinned by a comprehensive dataset, elucidates the global diversity in lipid profiles. The observed disparities may be attributed to a complex interplay of genetic factors, variations in lipid testing methodologies, lifestyle choices, and pharmaceutical interventions. Nevertheless, the study underscores the prevalence of elevated atherogenic lipid levels worldwide. It emphasizes the importance of evidence-based policymaking and healthcare strategies to mitigate the cardiovascular disease risk associated with lipid abnormalities.
Link to the article: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/25/2305/7216561
References Martin, S. S., Niles, J. K., Kaufman, H. W., Awan, Z., Elgaddar, O., Choi, R., Ahn, S., Verma, R., Nagarajan, M., Don-Wauchope, A., Gurgel Castelo, M. H. C., Hirose, C. K., James, D., Truman, D., Todorovska, M., Momirovska, A., Pivovarníková, H., Rákociová, M., Louzao-Gudin, P., … Kapoor, H. (2023). Lipid distributions in the Global Diagnostics Network across five continents. European Heart Journal, 44(25), 2305–2318. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad371
