Atherogenic dyslipidemia in Latin America: Prevalence, causes and treatment. Consensus

Atherogenic dyslipidemia (DA) is a poorly recognized entity in the current clinical practice guidelines. Due to the frequent lipid alterations associated with this metabolic abnormality in Latin America (LA), we organized a group of experts that has adopted the name of Latin American Association for the study of Lipids (ALALIP), to generate a document for analyzing in LA the prevalence of the lipid profile related to this condition, and to offer practical recommendations for its optimal diagnosis and treatment. Methodology: It was is selected a group of regional experts and, using a modified Delphi methodology, we conducted a comprehensive literature review, with emphasis on studies or reviews that had implications for LA. Subsequently developed a series of key questions about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the AD to be discussed by the group of experts. As a convention those recommendations that had 100% acceptance was consider unanimous; those with at least 80% as for consensus, and of disagreement, those with less than 80%. Results: Although there is no a global study on risk factors that has been made on the basis of a representative sample of the entire population of LA, the systematic analysis of the national health surveys and regional cohort studies based on local population sampling shows a consistent evidence of the high prevalence of the lipid abnormalities that define the AD. The prevalence of low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ranges from 34.1% (CESCAS I study) to 53.3% (LASO study), with different frequencies between men and women and the selected cut-off point. The prevalence of elevated triglycerides (TRG) varies from 25.5% (LASO study) to 31.2% (National Health Survey of Chile) being always more prevalent in men than in women. Only two studies report the prevalence of AD in LA: the National Health Survey of Mexico 2006 with an 18.3%, and a Venezuelan study that estimates the weighted prevalence of AD in 24.7%. There are multiple causes for these findings: an inadequate nutrition-characterized for high consumption of foods with a high caloric density and a high intake of cholesterol and trans fats-, a sedentary lifestyle, a high prevalence of obesity in the region, and possibly epigenetic changes that make our population more susceptible for having this abnormal lipid profile. Conclusions: Lipid abnormalities that define AD have a high prevalence in LA; the interaction between the style of living, the inheritance, and epigenetic changes possibly are its cause. Since they are considered as an important cause of residual cardiovascular risk, they must be diagnosed and treated actively as a secondary target after reaching the goal for low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). It is important to design a global study of risk factors in our region to let us know the true prevalence of AD and its causes, and to help us in the design of public policies adapted to our reality in a population and individual scale.