An Italian study shows that half of people with high cholesterol are unaware of it. Yet, dyslipidemia is crucial in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis, which leads to the development of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. (1)
High cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, the Italian study
The study was conducted by researchers at Gemelli, a polyclinic of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, with financial and technical support from Danone Italy. In fact, the company has arranged for participation in the research by filling out a questionnaire on a dedicated website.
More than 65 thousand people (65,892), mean age 52.5 years, 53.7% men, participated by reporting information corresponding to a cardiovascular risk factor: blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol, diet, exercise, smoking, and blood sugar.
Diet, exercise and cholesterol
Diet is an important variable in controlling dyslipidemia. Participants in the study were asked to state.
– The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. In fact, a healthy diet conceptually includes eating at least three servings of fruits and/or vegetables per day (at least 400 g/day), (2)
– the weekly frequency of consumption of meat, eggs, yogurt, rice, sausages, milk, pasta, legumes, cheese, bread and other cereals.
Another crucial variable in cholesterol control is exercise. Study participants thus reported if they practice for more than 2 per week. If so, they specified the type: walking less than an hour a day, low-impact sports (yoga, tai chi, and pilates), walking (more than an hour a day), cardio activities (such as brisk walking, running, and swimming), and muscle-strengthening activities (weightlifting, for example).
The ideal profile
At the end of the survey, ‘virtuous’ habits were confirmed as favoring cardiovascular health: never/former smoker, regular engagement in physical activity, body mass index (BMI) 18.5-24.9, healthy diet, untreated total blood cholesterol <200 mg/ dl, no diabetes, and untreated blood pressure <120/80 mmHg.
At the other extreme, participants who scored low, an indication of high risk to his or her health, were asked to contact their doctor to urgently change their lifestyle.
At risk without knowing it
Overall, the researchers found elevated blood cholesterol levels in about 60 percent of the participants, with average values higher in women than men (210 mg/dl vs. 199 mg/dl) and in the young compared to the elderly (206 mg/dl vs. 196 mg/dl). This result is at least partly explained by the higher proportion of elderly people taking cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The most interesting (and worrying) result of the study shows that 56% of all participants believed they had normal cholesterol values, while only 40% of them showed values <200 mg/dl. At the same time, more than 30 percent of all participants who thought they had normal cholesterol levels instead showed values >200 mg/dl.
Awareness campaigns are needed
The low perception of one’s health status is, moreover, consistent with the evidence that more than one-third of the population involved in the study had not had a cholesterol check in the previous year. More ‘fugitives’ are women compared to men (42% vs. 35%) and younger compared to older people (42% vs. 22%).
‘These data are very impressive considering that lack of awareness about the presence of a dyslipidemia condition could lead to a progression of subclinical atherosclerosis that then evolves into the development of CVD (cardiovascular disease, ed.). In addition, thinking you have a normal cholesterol profile leads screening to be less frequent‘, note the researchers, who advocate the organization of‘large-scale awareness campaigns, along with fast lanes for access to health checks.’
Marta Strinati
Cover image from Cholesterol Medication – Physician’s Weekly
Notes
(1) Anna Maria Martone, Francesco Landi, Luca Petricca, Annamaria Paglionico, Rosa Liperoti, Maria Camilla Cipriani, Francesca Ciciarello, Sara Rocchi, Riccardo Calvani, Anna Picca, Emanuele Marzetti, Luca Santoro. Prevalence of dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia awareness: results from the Lookup 7+ online project. European Journal of Public Health, Volume 32, Issue 3, June 2022, Pages 402-407, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckab224
(2) Marta Strinati.
Two apples a day keep cholesterol out of the way.
. GIFT(Great Italian Food Trade) 16.12.19.
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
