Serum lipid profile in an elderly Chinese population.

The serum lipid profile of a cohort of Hong Kong Chinese subjects living in the community (160 men, 154 women, mean age 70.2 +/- 11.4 years) was examined to determine the influence of age, sex, indices of obesity, drugs, smoking, alcohol intake, and presence of diabetes mellitus on serum lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein concentrations. A high waist/hip ratio (an index of central obesity) was associated with higher serum triglyceride and lower apolipoprotein (apo) A-I concentrations, while a higher body mass index was associated with lower high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and higher apo B concentrations. Smokers and those taking beta-blockers had lower apo A-I concentrations. Subjects on methyldopa had higher triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol, with lower HDL and HDL2 cholesterol. All the HDL fractions were lower in diabetic subjects, and cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations correlated with indices of glycemic control.