Determinants of inter-individual cholesterol levels variations in an unbiased young male sample

Abstract

Question under study: Affected by individual life style, total cholesterol serum level is a major morbidity and mortality risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). We present total cholesterol values and possible etiological factors of young Swiss conscripts. Particularly, we focus on the varying impact of such a component depending on different levels of individual cholesterol.

Methods: Male conscripts (n=19’272) of the 2005 census of the conscripts have been examined, reflecting ca. 59% of a total Swiss male citizen birth cohort. Quantile regression allows us to analyze the reagibility of arbitrary quantiles with respect to variables of interest.

Results: Eleven percent of all conscripts show an increased total cholesterol level. A major association of high individual cholesterol level is with French mother tongue. The largest socio-economic subsample – agricultural and construction sectors – show significantly higher individual cholesterol levels than employees in the industry sector and students, respectively.

Conclusions: We were able to find and exclude various as yet unstudied factors influencing individual total cholesterol levels. Such a screening programme offers a unique opportunity to target persons at high-risk for CVD morbidity and mortality already early in life.