ackground : Among the risk factors associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), hyperlipidemia is one of the most important. In recent years, the incidence of CAD is increasing in Korean population, being attributed to increasing longevity,
the
changes in diet
and economical conditions. The study was designed for establishing normal adult values of
serum lipids in Korean workers.
Methods : Serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were measured by the
enzymatic method and their levels were analysed in relation to different working areas and
conditions in 18518 males and 360 females, resident in Pohang (11651 male and 360 female)
and kwangyang (6867 males) city, Korea. The study subjects are all workers who were
considered to be clinically healthy.
Results : Total cholesterol levels of male and female adults in Pohang were 171.2±31.2
mg/ dl and 166.5±30.7 mg/dl and levels of males in Kwangyang were 163.0±28.9 mg/dl,
respectively. The total cholesterol levels of males in Pohang were significantly higher than
those of females (p<0.01), and males (p<0.001) in Kwangyang. The total cholesterol levels
gradually increased significantly with age (twenties through forties) in males in both areas.
Serum triglyceride levels of males in Pohang were 124.4±70.7 mg/dl and also increased
significantly with age (twenties through thirties), respectively.
Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of male employees above the level of chief
clerk were significantly higher than those of employees below the level of chief clerk
(p<0.001).
Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of male white-collar workers were
significantly higher than those of male blue-collar workers (p<0.001, p<0.01).
Serum total cholesterol levels of male nonshift worker were significantly higher than thosd
of male shift workers(p<0.001).
Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed a statistically significant elevation
with increment of body weight in male (p<0.001).
Serum cholesterol levles of male heavy drinkers (1902 cases, 165.7±29.5 mg/dl) were
significantly higher than those of light drinkers (4400 cases, 161.8±28.4 mg/dl) (p<0.001).
Serum total cholesterol levels of male heavy smokers (252 cases, 169.9±32.0 mg/dl) were
significantly higher than those of male non-smokers (2128 cases, 163.4±28.7 mg/dl) (p<0.01),
or male light smokers (4487 cases, 162.4±28.8 mg/dl) (p<0.001).
Serum total cholesterol levels of male heavy drinkers and heavy smokers (115 cases, 170.5
±34.1 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those of non-drinkers and non-smokers (358
cases, 161.1±29.2 mg/dl) (p<0.01), or than those of light drinkers and lght smokers (2893
cases, 161.1±28.5 mg/dl) (p<0.01). But there were no significant differences in cholesterol
levels between all of drinkers and non-drinkers, between all of smokers and non-smokers.
Conclusion : In conclusion, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of our study subjects
are largely influenced by age, sex, body weight, a residential district, working conditions, and
weakly influenced by alchol drinking and smoking habits.
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