Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Epidemiological Studies for Cardiovascular Risk Factors conducted in Turkey: prevelance of dislipidemias and lipid Data

OBJECTIVE
Dyslipidemias, primarily hypercholesterolemia, are independent and strong predictors of cardiovascular (CV) events. The frequency of dyslipidemia is very important in terms of determining CV prevention policies. Turkish Society of Cardiology (TSC) has endorsed an initiavite for determining the current prevelance of CV risk factors in Turkey. In this article, the results of this project are presented with regard to lipid data, including hypercholesterolemia.

METHODS
Epidemiological studies conducted during the last 15 years that have a potential to reflect the Turkey’s census sampling were searched in databases (Ovid Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, and ULAKBIM) and web pages (Ministry of Health, Turkey Statistical Institute, TSC, Nephrology and Endocrinology Associations). A total of 6 studies including lipid data were found. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the studies with low bias score were performed. Crude values of the prevalence of hypercholeterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL and mean lipid levels were pooled using random effects model. Random effects model was used for the meta-analysis and meta-regression.

RESULTS
The prevelance of hypercholesterolemia defined as the LDL-cholesterol >130 and/or ≥130 mg/dL, was 29.1% (95% CI 23.6-35.0) in the general population, 30.2% in females (%95 CI 24.7-36.1), and in males 27.8% (95% CI 22.3-33.6). The prevelance of low HDL-cholesterol (≤50 mg/dL for females and ≤40 mg/dL for males) was calculated as 46.1% (95% CI 42.4-49.9) in the whole group, 50.7% (95% CI 47.7-53.6) in females and 41.1% (95% CA 36.1-46.3) in males. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia was 36.5% (95% CI 30.6-42.5) in general, 32.0% (95% GA 26.6-37.8) in females and 41.3% (95% CI 34.9-47.8) in males.

CONCLUSION
Dyslipidemias are still constitues a major public health problem in Turkey. In the adult population, almost 3 of 10 have hypercholesterolemia, one of 2 has a low HDL-cholesterol, and 1 of 3 has high triglyceride levels.