Prevalence of Borderline Elevated and Elevated Cholesterol Among New Adult Patients From 23 Hospitals in 12 Cities of Jiangsu Province: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study

Why It Matters

The findings reveal sizable, gender‑ and region‑specific cholesterol burdens among Chinese inpatients, highlighting gaps in current screening practices and the need for targeted lipid‑management strategies.

Key Takeaways

• Overall prevalence 24.9% among Jiangsu inpatients.
• Females 28.7% vs males 22.1% prevalence.
• Peak prevalence 31.6% in ages 45‑49.
• Southern, Central, Northern Jiangsu 1.5‑1.6× higher risk than Nanjing.
• Neurological and circulatory diseases lower cholesterol risk.

Pulse Analysis

China’s rapid economic transition has driven a surge in dyslipidemia, positioning high cholesterol as a leading driver of cardiovascular mortality. While national surveys report hypercholesterolemia rates exceeding 30%, inpatient data have been scarce. This Jiangsu‑province study supplies a timely snapshot of lipid abnormalities among hospitalized adults, offering a more clinical perspective that complements community‑based estimates and underscores the hidden burden of borderline cholesterol elevations that often escape routine screening.

The age‑specific inverted‑U pattern—rising to a peak in the mid‑40s before declining—mirrors metabolic shifts observed in middle‑aged populations worldwide. Hormonal changes, especially the post‑menopausal estrogen decline in women, likely amplify the observed gender gap, with females exhibiting a markedly higher prevalence. These dynamics suggest that current screening thresholds, typically applied after age 45, may miss a substantial segment of at‑risk individuals in their late thirties, prompting calls for earlier lipid assessments in high‑risk subgroups.

Regional disparities within Jiangsu point to the influence of diet, socioeconomic status, and healthcare infrastructure. Areas outside the provincial capital, despite sharing a broadly similar culinary heritage, show higher cholesterol odds, possibly reflecting variations in food processing, physical activity, and access to preventive care. Policymakers can leverage these insights to design localized public‑health interventions—such as community nutrition programs and targeted lipid‑monitoring clinics—to curb the progression from borderline to overt hypercholesterolemia and reduce the downstream cardiovascular disease burden.