Document Type

Capstone Experience

Graduation Date

12-2024

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Department

Epidemiology

First Committee Member

Dr. Brittney L. Dickey

Second Committee Member

Dr. Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between serum total cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD), accounting for key risk factors in adults aged 32–70 years.

Methods: We analyzed data from 4,382 participants of the Framingham Heart Study, a prospective cohort study with 24 years of follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between serum cholesterol and CHD, adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, BMI, diabetes, and heart rate.

Results: Individuals with high (aOR = 1.87; 95% CI = 1.52 - 2.32; p<.0001) and borderline high (aOR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.13 - 1.75; p = 0.0024) cholesterol levels have significantly higher odds of developing CHD than those with normal cholesterol. Older (aOR=1.03; 95% CI=1.03–1.05), male (aOR=2.16; 95% CI=1.86–2.51), current smokers (aOR=1.20; 95% CI=1.03–1.39), hypertensive (aOR=1.88; 95% CI=1.55–2.26), obese (aOR=3.03; 95% CI=1.24–7.43), and diabetic individuals (aOR=2.41; 95% CI=1.63–3.56), had significantly higher CHD risk.

Conclusions: Elevated serum cholesterol significantly increases CHD risk, emphasizing the importance of early cholesterol management to reduce the burden of CHD.

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