Prevalence Trend for 31 Years of Hypertriglyceridemia in Ningen Dock and Resetting of Medical Examination Recommendations through Evaluation of Improvement for Hypertriglyceridemia with Weight Loss

To determine the long-term trend of hypertriglyceridemia prevalence, 259,935 subjects who had undergone Ningen Dock at the Jikei University Hospital for 31 years from 1988 were analyzed. The annual prevalence of triglycerides of ≥150mg/dL and the adherence rate of lipid-improving drugs were investigated. In men, the trend of hypertriglyceridemia prevalence was downward in all age groups. Women showed a downward trend in the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in all age groups except for those in their 30s, but the rate of decrease was slightly more than that in men. The use of anti-hypertriglyceridemia drugs increased year by year. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in the non-use group showed the same downward trend overall. Being overweight and alcohol consumption elevate triglyceride levels. BMI increased in men and decreased in women. Alcohol consumption decreased for the last three decades. Thus, decreased alcohol consumption was a possible reason for the reduced prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. The effect of weight loss on hypertriglyceridemia was more effective with greater weight loss, but the effect weakened at ≥300mg/dL of triglyceride. Total bilirubin, a potent antioxidant, was reduced at ≥400mg/dL triglycerides. In the comprehensive risk chart, subjects with ≥500mg/dL triglycerides are diagnosed with hypertriglyceridemia, indicated as a referral to a lipid specialist, but only 0.4 ％ of the patients who underwent the health screening were referred. In future health screenings, it is advisable to change the cutoff value needed to consult a lipid specialist from 500 to 400mg/dL. Lifestyle improvement is useful for subjects with 150 - 399mg/dL triglycerides.