Prevalence of hyperlipidemia and associated risk factors among healthy young Saudi females: relationship with waist Circumference and body Mass Index

Background and Objectives: Hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and hypoadiponectinemia are well recognized cardiovascular risk factors especially among obese subjects. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and associated risk factors among young Saudi females and their relationship with waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods: 127 randomly recruited healthy young Saudi females were studied. Anthropometric (WC and BMI) and biochemical parameters (adiponectin, leptin, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and insulin), were measured. Prevalence of different risk factors was assessed in all subjects and in those with normal BMI (<25kg/m2). Anthropometric predictors of different risk factors were estimated. Results: One third of the study subjects were overweight (28%) and 20 % were obese. Hyperlipidemia, especially low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), was highly prevalent in the whole population. This had persisted when subjects with BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 and WC ≥ 80 cm were excluded. Deciles of WC, adiponectin, leptin and the homeostasis model assessment index-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated in subjects with normal BMI. Prevalence of hyperlipidemia was also high in subjects with WC < 71 cm (upper decile). Regression analysis showe