Orv Hetil. 2026 Jan 4;167(1):9-15. doi: 10.1556/650.2026.33445. Print 2026 Jan 4.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Elevated serum cholesterol is a major cardiovascular risk factor. Population-level trends in total cholesterol reflect changes in lifestyle, diet, and pharmacological treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To assess temporal changes in serum total cholesterol levels in the population of a South Hungarian village over a 30-year period.
METHOD: Serum total cholesterol was measured in Méhkerék residents in 1994 and 2014 following professional guidelines, and re-examined in 2024. Temporal trends were analyzed using multiple regression and analysis of covariance.
RESULTS: The study included 760 individuals in 1994, 391 in 2014, and 544 in 2024. Due to changes in age and sex composition, analyses were standardized for 40-, 50-, and 70-year-old men and women. Among 40-year-old women, cholesterol decreased by 3% from 1994 to 2024, and by 10% and 25% among 50- and 70-year-olds, respectively. In men, the corresponding reductions were 11%, 17%, and 28%. No significant difference was found between 1994 and 2014 (p = 0.117), but the decline became significant by 2024 (p<0.001). Cholesterol levels were significantly associated with sex (p = 0.005) and age (p<0.001), and a time × age interaction indicated a more pronounced decline in older participants.
CONCLUSION: According to a detailed review of the available literature, this is the first comprehensive epidemiological study conducted on a Hungarian population over a 30-year period, which follows the serum total cholesterol levels of the entire population of a settlement. The significant long-term reduction likely reflects combined effects of medical therapy and lifestyle improvements. These findings emphasize the preventive role of general practice and the need for more focused cardiovascular prevention among younger individuals and women. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(1): 9-15.
PMID:41485192 | DOI:10.1556/650.2026.33445