Epidemiology of dyslipidemia in Chinese adults: meta-analysis of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control

BACKGROUND: Numerous epidemiology studies on dyslipidemia have been conducted in China. However, a nationally representative estimate for dyslipidemia prevalence is lacking. The aim of this study is to appraise the nationwide prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia in adults in China. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the related observational studies published since 2003 by searching English and Chinese literature databases. Meta-analyses were conducted in eligible studies using a random effect model to summarize the dyslipidemia prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates. Heterogeneity and publication bias were analyzed. Sensitivity analyses were performed to explain heterogeneity and examine the impact of study quality on the results of meta-analyses. RESULTS: Thirty-eight papers were included for meta-analyses, with a total sample size of 387,825. The prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control rates of dyslipidemia were 41.9% (95% CI: 37.7% – 46.2%), 24.4% (95% CI: 14.4% – 38.4%), 8.8% (95% CI: 7.7% – 10.0%), and 4.3% (95% CI: 4.1% – 4.5%), respectively. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, mixed hyperlipidemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were 10.1% (95% CI: 5.8% – 16.9%), 17.7% (95% CI: 14.0% – 22.1%), 5.1% (95% CI: 3.1% – 8.2%), 11.0% (95% CI: 8.0% – 15.0%), and 8.8% (95% CI: 4.1% – 17.8%), respectively. Sensitivity analyses revealed that males had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia (43.2%) than females (35.6%). Study samples of age 30 and above in the eastern region tended to have higher prevalence of dyslipidemia. The quality of the studies has a slight impact on the pooled estimates. CONCLUSIONS: The overall pooled prevalence of dyslipidemia in Chinese adults was estimated to be 41.9%, with males having a higher rate than females. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12963-014-0028-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.