Associating Factors among Filipino Adults using 2008 National Nutrition Survey Data

Lyndon Morales

In May 2008, the 7th National Nutritional Survey was conducted by Food and Nutrition Research Institute – Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) to measure the health status of Filipinos. A Multi- stage stratified sampling design was used in determining the survey participants. From the Clinical Health Survey component among Filipino adults, this study assessed the association of Total Cholesterol and potential factors such as age, gender, employment status, location, blood pressure, smoking status, physical activity, body mass index, dietary intake, alcohol intake and co-morbidities.

The prevalence of the high total cholesterol among Filipino adults was almost one out of three (30.90%). Among age brackets, 50 to 59 years old Filipino had the highest prevalence of high total cholesterol. Females (35.17) had higher prevalence of total cholesterol than males (26.10). Filipino living in rural location (26.12) had higher prevalence than in urban place (35.57). Unemployed (33.23) Filipinos had higher prevalence of high total cholesterol than employed (29.29) while Filipinos with lower educational attainment had lower prevalence compared with higher educational attainment. Unmarried (18.28) Filipinos had lower prevalence of high total cholesterol than married (33.71).

There was higher prevalence of high total cholesterol in the presence of co-morbidities. Moreover, the presence of arthritis, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, goiter, kidney disease, liver disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) had higher prevalence of high total cholesterol than in absence. Lifetime abstainer (34.78) in alcohol intake had highest prevalence of high total cholesterol than in past (31.79) and current (25.45). Among smoking status, Filipinos who were past smokers (33.28) had highest prevalence.

Low Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) level had lower prevalence compared with higher FBS level. Both Filipinos who had abnormal waist circumference ratio (WCR) and waist hip ratio (WHR) had higher prevalence of high total cholesterol than normal. On the other hand, Filipinos with normal Blood pressure (BP) had lower prevalence than abnormal BP.

There were higher prevalence of high total cholesterol in among those with high triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Active physical activities in occupational and travel had lower prevalence of high total cholesterol than inactive respondents.

Among fat dietary intake of Filipinos, normal dietary intake had lower prevalence of high total cholesterol than above normal and had higher prevalence of high total cholesterol than below normal.

Out of the thirty nine variables examined in the study to determine association with high total cholesterol, the factors significantly associated with Total Cholesterol among Filipinos Aged 20 and above were age, gender, FBS, WCR, BP, presence of CAD, protein intake, triglycerides, LDL and HDL, and cheese consumption.

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