• Component Description
• Eligible Sample
• Description of Laboratory Methodology
• Data Processing and Editing
• Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring
• Analytic Notes
• Codebook
  • SEQN - Respondent sequence number
  • WTSAF2YR - Fasting Subsample 2 Year MEC Weight
  • LBXTR - Triglyceride (mg/dL)
  • LBDTRSI - Triglyceride (mmol/L)
  • LBDLDL - LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)
  • LBDLDLSI - LDL-cholesterol (mmol/L)

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

2007-2008 Data Documentation, Codebook, and Frequencies

Cholesterol - LDL & Triglycerides (TRIGLY_E)

Data File: TRIGLY_E.xpt

First Published: May 2010

Last Revised: September 2010

Component Description

The goals of this component are: 1) to monitor the prevalence and trends in major cardiovascular conditions and risk factors in the U.S.; and 2) to evaluate prevention and treatment programs targeting cardiovascular disease in the U.S.

The main element of the cardiovascular disease laboratory component in NHANES is blood lipid levels. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The data will be used to monitor the status of hyperlipidemia and the success of the National Cholesterol Education Program.

Eligible Sample

Participants aged 12 years and older, who were examined in the morning (AM) session, were tested.

Description of Laboratory Methodology

Blood specimens were processed, stored, and shipped to University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN for analysis.

Detailed specimen collection and processing instructions are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory/Medical Technologists Procedures Manual (LPM). Vials are stored under appropriate frozen (–30°C) conditions until they are shipped to University of Minnesota for testing.

There were changes (from the previous 2 years of NHANES) to equipment, lab method and lab site.

During 2005-2006 Johns Hopkins University performed the lipids testing. Beginning in 2007, the University of Minnesota performed the lipids testing

There were changes in the instruments used to measure triglycerides. In 2005, triglycerides were measured enzymatically in serum using the Roche Hitachi 717. In 2006, triglycerides were measured enzymatically in serum using the Roche Hitachi 717 and 912. In 2007, triglycerides were measured in serum using Roche Modular P chemistry analyzer. No adjustment of values was necessary to account for the change in instrumentation for triglycerides between 2005-2006 and 2007-2008.

Roche Modular P chemistry analyzer
Triglycerides

In this enzymatic method reagent 1 (glycerol blanking) is added first. Free glycerol is converted to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) by glycerol kinase. G3P is acted upon by glycerol phosphate oxidase to produce dihydroxyacetone phosphate and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide combines with 4-chlorophenol under the action of peroxidase to produce an oxidation product that that does not react with the colorometric component of reagent 2. After this initial reaction sequence is completed, the Mod P records a blank absorbance reading. Then reagent 2 is added. The second reaction is driven by the reagents from bottle 1, with lipase added in reagent 2 to convert triglycerides to glycerol, and 4-aminophenzone added to react with the hydrogen peroxide produced in the last reaction. The reaction is measured at 505 nm (secondary wavelength = 700 nm). This method is a two-reagent, endpoint reaction that is specific for triglycerides.

Triglycerides are fatty acid esters of glycerol that have three hydroxyl groups. Because they are insoluble in water, the triglycerides are transported with other more polar lipids. Elevated triglyceride measurements are associated with diabetes mellitus, pancreatitis, alcoholism, glycogen storage disease, hypothyroidism, nephrosis, pregnancy, use of oral contraceptives and gout. Triglyceride levels are decreased in hyperthyroidism, use of certain lipid-lowering drugs and malabsorption syndrome.

Data Processing and Editing

Three derived variables were created in this data file. The formula for their derivation is as follows:

LBDTRSI

The triglycerides value in mg/dL (LBXTR) was converted to mmol/L (LBDTRSI) by multiplying by 0.01129.

LBDLDLSI

The LDL-cholesterol in mg/dL (LBDLDL) was converted to mmol/L (LBDLDLSI) by multiplying by 0.02586.

LBDLDL

Serum LDL-cholesterol levels were derived on examinees that were examined in the morning session only. The distribution of serum LDL-cholesterol should be estimated only on examinees aged 12 and above who fasted at least 8.5 hours or more but less than 24 hours in the morning session. LDL-cholesterol is calculated from measured values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol according to the Friedewald calculation:

    [LDL-cholesterol] = [total cholesterol] – [HDL-cholesterol] – [triglycerides/5]

where all values are expressed in mg/dL. The calculation is valid for triglycerides less than or equal to 400 mg/dL.

Detailed instructions on specimen collection and processing can be found on the NHANES website.

Laboratory Quality Assurance and Monitoring

The NHANES quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act mandates. Detailed QA/QC instructions are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory/Medical Technologists Procedures Manual (LPM). Read the General Documentation of Laboratory Data file for detailed QA/QC protocols.

A detailed description of the quality assurance and quality control procedures can be found on the NHANES Web site.

Analytic Notes

The analysis of NHANES laboratory data must be conducted with the key survey design and basic demographic variables. The NHANES Household Questionnaire Data Files contain demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews. The Household Questionnaire Data Files also contain all survey design variables and sample weights required to analyze these data. The Phlebotomy Examination file includes auxiliary information on duration of fasting, the time of day of the venipuncture, and the conditions precluding venipuncture. The Household Questionnaire and Phlebotomy Exam files may be linked to the laboratory data file using the unique survey participant identifier SEQN.

In cases, where the result was below the limit of detection, the value for that variable is the detection limit divided by the square root of two.

LBXTR and LBXLDL
Serum levels were measured on examinees that were examined in the morning session only. The distribution of serum triglycerides should be estimated only on examinees aged 12 and above who fasted at least 8.5 hours or more but less than 24 hours.
The Laboratory data file contains laboratory test results for triglycerides (LBXTR), which uses the reference analytic method. The NHANES Lab 40 biochemistry profiles also include measurements of triglycerides. The Lab 40 variable name is LBXSTR. The appropriate variable to use from TRIGLY_D data file is LBXTR found in these files.

 

Sampling Weights
The analyst should use the special sampling weights in this file to analyze triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues. Both of these are available on the NHANES website.

Codebook and Frequencies