Prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated factors in the Yi farmers and migrants of southwestern China

There are scant data on serum lipid profile in the Yi people in China. The Yi farmers and migrants provide an unusual opportunity to estimate effects of environmental factors on serum lipid levels. We conducted a cross-sectional study in the Yi people to estimate prevalence of dyslipidemia and associated factors. It was found that prevalence of high total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), abnormal ratio of TC/HDL-C and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were 1.82%, 5.07%, 1.56%, 9.30% and 39.47%, respectively in the Yi farmers. And those in the Yi migrants were 4.81%, 22.21%, 3.24%, 26.56% and 40.53%. Prevalence of dyslipidemia increased with time period in the Yi farmers after their emigrating to urban areas for less than 25 years, except high TC. It was also found that prevalence of dyslipidemia of the Yi migrants increased with time period before their emigration, including hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and high ratio of TC/HDL-C. Their body mass index (BMI), history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), gender, ever alcohol drinking and physical activity all were associated with dyslipidemia, but no factors associated with high LDL-C was found. In conclusion, all these results suggest that the Yi migrants have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than the Yi farmers do, which possibly can attribute to their urbanized lifestyles.

► The paper firstly reported the lipid profile in Chinese Yi people resent 20 years. ► It was a migration epidemiology study on serum lipid levels. ► Yi migrants provided an unusual opportunity to estimate environmental factors. ► The result suggested who should give priority for the control of dyslipidemias. ► It showed the future increasing trend of dyslipidemias in China.