296 Trends in plasma lipids, lipoproteins and dyslipidemias in French adults, 1996-2007.

Background: The management of dyslipidemias remains a priority of preventive cardiology. The aim of this work was to assess lipids, lipoproteins and dyslipidemias trends between 1996 and 2007 in France. Methods: Two representative surveys of the general population were carried out in Northern, in North-Eastern and in Southwestern areas of France in 1996-97 (n=3508) and in 2006-07 (n=3597). Men and women aged 35 to 64 years were included. The investigators recorded all the cardiovascular risk factors and a blood sample was drawn. Data have been rectified with the respective original populations to study a 10-year trend in the measured parameters. Results: From 1996 to 2007, a significant 5.7% decrease in LDL-cholesterol (C) levels was observed in adults aged 35-64 years (p<0.001). During this same period a significant 7.8% increase in triglycerides was observed (p<0.001). LDL-C variation was more striking in subjects treated with a lipid-lowering drug, with a 17.6% reduction (p<0.001). Lipid-lowering drug prevalence increased significantly from 10.4% to 12.5% between the two periods (p=0.004). In 1996-97, 33.7% of the dyslipidemic subjects were treated with statins and 71.8% in 2006-07. In 2006-07, atorvastatin was the most commonly prescribed statin (35.8% of all statins) whereas the most common fibrate was fenofibrate (87.2% of all fibrates). A decrease in most of dyslipidemias (LDL-C >4.1 mmol/L or triglycerides ≥2.3 mmol/L or HDL-C <1.05 mmol/L in men or <1.3 mmol/L in women) has also been observed at a 10-year interval. On the other hand, we observed a significant increase in the combination of hypertriglyceridemia with high LDL-C. Conclusion: This study shows a favorable trend in LDL-C and dyslipidemias in France. The significant decrease in LDL-C observed among all the subjects and more particularly among subjects treated with lipid-lowering drugs should be incentive for physicians to support the management of all adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]