Lipidic asset – menopausal women

The comparison of the two OEC/HES surveys (1998-02 and 2008-12) shows that:

in menopausal women (mean age: 62 years old) the mean value of HDL and LDL cholesterol increased from 58 to 62 mg/dl and from 136 to 141 mg/dl, respectively, over the considered decade. The mean value of triglyceridemia decreased from 124 to 116 mg/dl. The prevalence of elevated LDL (about 70%) and hypertriglyceridemia (about 20%) did not change significantly.

Definitions and reference
Hypercholesterolemia was defined by total cholesterol ≥240mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l) or under regular lipid lowering treatment.  Hypercholesterolemic persons were divided into the following groups: ‘not aware’, ‘aware, not treated’, ‘aware, not well treated’ (treated and total cholesterol <240mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l)) and ‘aware, well treated’ (treated and total cholesterol <240mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l)). (“Not aware”: people who had never been told by a doctor or other health professional that are Hypercholesterolemic”).

Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as triglyceride values ≥150mg/dl (1.7 mmol/ l); elevated LDL cholesterol was defined as LDL values ≥115mg/dl (~ 3 mmol/l).

Reference: Giampaoli S, Palmieri L, Donfrancesco C, Lo Noce C, Pilotto L, Vanuzzo D, on behalf of The Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey Research Group. Cardiovascular health in Italy. Ten-year surveillance of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors: Osservatorio Epidemiologico Cardiovascolare/Health Examination Survey 1998–2012. European journal of preventive cardiology 2015;22(2 Suppl):9-37.