Hypercholesterolaemia in a group of senior South African Transport Services employees
Steyn, K.; Fourie, J.; van Vuuren, I.; Marais, A.S.; Opt'hof, J.
South African Medical Journal 73(12): 701-703
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 3381152 Document Number: 307269
The lipid profiles of 104 volunteer senior South African Transport Service (SATS) personnel showed that all volunteers had some lipid abnormality, which increased their risk for coronary heart disease. All participants received a single counselling interview with a nursing sister on a lipid-lowering lifestyle. Retesting after 3-4 months of 91 participants revealed that this group had lowered their mean total serum cholesterol value significantly. Twenty-one percent of the participants had normalized their lipid profiles and the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia, defined in a number of ways, was reduced, as was the number of possible familial hypercholesterolaemic patients, by 60%. Participants who complied with the dietary recommendations strictly reduced their cholesterol levels significantly, while those who did not were less successful in lowering their serum cholesterol levels. Screening and a single intervention counselling interview improved the coronary risk factor profile of this group of senior SATS personnel.