The association of religious affiliation with cholesterol levels among South Asians: the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America study

Abstract

Background South Asians have disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia, a contributing factor, may be influenced by lifestyle, which can vary by religious beliefs. Little is known about South Asian religions and associations with dyslipidemia. Methods Cross-sectional analyses of the MASALA study ( n = 889). We examined the associations between religious affiliation and cholesterol levels using multivariate linear regression models. We determined whether smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and dietary pattern mediated these associations. Results Mean LDL was 112 ± 32 mg/dL, median HDL was 48 mg/dL (IQR:40–57), and median triglycerides was 118 mg/dL (IQR:88–157). Muslims had higher LDL and triglycerides, and lower HDL, while participants with no religious affiliation had lower LDL and higher HDL. The difference in HDL between Muslims and those with no religious affiliation was partly explained by alcohol consumption. Conclusions Religion-specific tailoring of interventions designed to promote healthy lifestyle to reduce cholesterol among South Asians may be useful.

Association between sleep insufficiency and dyslipidemia: a cross-sectional study among Greek adults in the primary care setting

“…Furthermore, DL was more prominent among Greek Muslims affecting 39.2% of our population, compared to Expatriated Greeks and Greek Christians with proportions of 28.8% and 29.9%, respectively. Several studies have also underlined the growing prevalence of DL in minority groups 33,34 . Moreover, rural citizens presented DL twice more frequently when compared to inhabitants of urban areas.…”