Estimation and correlation of stress and cholesterol levels in college teachers and housewives of Hyderabad-Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate environmental, psychological and physiological stresses in college teachers and housewives, and to correlate with their serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. METHODS This cohort study was performed at the Institute of Biochemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan during 2003-2005. Eighty females from middle socioeconomic groups, college teachers (40) and housewives (40) aged between 25-45 years participated in this study and subjects were selected from Hyderabad and its adjoining areas. Environmental, psychological and physiological stress levels were measured with Likert scale. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were measured by CHOD-PAP method and triglyceride levels were measured by GPO method. RESULTS Housewives had high levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride but low levels of HDL cholesterol were found in college teachers. Environmental, psychological and physiological stresses were significantly higher in housewives as compared to college teachers. CONCLUSION Housewives were under more stress than college teachers. High levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride but low levels of HDL cholesterol were found in housewives compared to college teachers.