Effects of Age and Gender on Plasma Total Cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol among Elderly Sudanese in Khartoum State, Sudan

Hisham B. Adam[1] ,Samia Mahdi Ahmed[2], Badreldien Hassan Elabid[3], Sami A. Mohamed[4], Mohamed A. Adam[5] , Rania M. Mohamed[6]
Page no. 124-128

Hyperlipidemia is a common risk factor for atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and stroke
especially in the elderly. The Objective of this study is to assess the Effects of Age and Gender on
Plasma Total Cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol among Elderly Sudanese in Khartoum State. A
community-based and case-control study was conducted in Khartoum State, Sudan, during the
period from June to December 2011. A total of 70 healthy elderly Sudanese (35 males and 35
females) as a test group (age range 50-80 years) and 70 healthy adults ( 35 males and 35 femals)
as a control group for comparison (age range 20-50 years ) were enrolled in this study .Diabetic
and hypertensive subjects were excluded from this study. The plasma levels of total Cholesterol and
LDL-Cholesterol were measured using reagents and a spectrophotometer from Bio-system
Company. SPSS program was used for analysis of data. The plasma levels of total cholesterol and
LDL –cholesterol were significantly raised in the test group when compared with the control group
(P-value <0.05).There was no significant difference between the means of the plasma levels of total
cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of males when compared to female among the test group (P-value
>0.05).In conclusion, elderly Sudanese of both sexes , are at a higher risk of atherosclerosis,
ischemic heart disease and stroke as a consequence of significantly raised total cholesterol and
LDL-Cholesterol. Gender showed no effect on the plasma levels oftotal cholesterol and LDLCholesterol
among the elderly Sudanese.
Keywords: Total Cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, Elderly People