Epidemiologic Characteristics of Dyslipidemia in Korea

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality and disability worldwide and in Korea as well. Dyslipidemia is considered as a major and modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular disease. In Korea, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in people aged 30 years or older was 47.8% in 2013, with prevalence increasing as age increases. Men had higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than women (men, 57.6%; women, 38.3%). However, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in women increased rapidly after menopause. Furthermore, dyslipidemia is also rising in childhood and adolescents. The prevalence of hypo-HDL cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were higher than hyper-LDL cholesterolemia. However, hyper-LDL cholesterolemia also has been increasing due to the westernized diet and other lifestyle changes. Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is the combination of these lipoprotein abnormalities, seems to be increasing. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher in obese people, and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, which included dyslipidemia as a component of abnormalities, also increased in accordance with dyslipidemia. Also, dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes increased from 27.8% in 2006 to 49.5% in 2013. The awareness and treatment rate of dyslipidemia were lower in comparison with other chronic diseases. By providing information about the risk of dyslipidemia, primary prevention such as weight loss, dietary treatment, and quit smoking and secondary prevention such as early detection and drug treatment are required for reducing the development of cardiovascular disease.