Screening for hypercholesterolaemia in patients with other risk factors for coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia in individuals with other major risk factors of coronary heart disease and markers of hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study on a random sample of 261 persons aged between 35 and 69 years residing in the flatted housing estate of West Coast, Singapore, was conducted in 1997. A questionnaire, together with a medical examination and investigation involving the use of Reflotron machine, were used to collect the information required. RESULTS: 43.2% of the population had at least 1 major risk factor, with 18.1% being smokers, 18.1% with hypertension, 6.5% with diabetes mellitus, 5.1% being obese, and 5.0% with a family history of coronary heart disease. Higher percentages of individuals with hypercholesterolaemia were found when each risk factor was present. 9.5% had 2 or more risk factors, of which, 21.1% had high cholesterol levels. A high prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia that was statistically significant was found amongst subjects with corneal arcus below the age of 60. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors of coronary heart disease remain prevalent in our population. We recommend screening for serum cholesterol only in those with at least 2 major risk factors of coronary heart disease in the general population between 35 and 69 years of age.