**3. Results**

#### *3.1. Characteristics of the Studied Participants*

The demographic characteristics of the study participants are shown in Table 1. The group of participants comprised 292 females (63.5%) and 168 males (36.5%). The mean age was 40.6 years old, and approximately 70% of the participants were married (Table 1). In addition, one-fourth of participants were smokers, and only a minority practiced physical exercise once per week (Table 1).


**Table 1.** Demographic characteristics of the study participants.

Values are arithmetic mean ± SD for continuous variables. Categorical variables are shown as numbers (*n*) and percentages (%). *n*: sample size.

Moreover, the clinical and genetic characteristics are shown in Table 2. Approximately 75% of the participants had high total cholesterol and LDL-C levels, and around half had low HDL-C.


**Table 2.** Clinical and genetic characteristics of the study participants.

Values are arithmetic mean ± SD for continuous variables. Categorical variables are shown as number (*n*) and percentages (%). *n*: sample size. BMI: body mass index, LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, MAF: minor allele frequency, *CD14*: cluster of differentiation 14.

#### *3.2. Association of rs2569190A*>*G in CD14 with Hypercholesterolemia*

Our calculations showed that the minor allele in our population was the allele G, with a frequency of 0.41 (Table 2). In addition, the allelic frequencies were consistent with HWE (*p* = 0.86). Interestingly, the G allele of rs2569190 in *CD14* was associated with increased levels of Tchol (OR = 3.04, *p* = 0.016, Table 3) and LDL-C (OR = 3.83, *p* = 0.006, Table 3) and decreased levels of HDL-C (OR = 0.36, *p* = 0.001, Table 3). Similar results were also seen with a recessive genetic model. Age was positively associated with an increase in Tchol levels (OR = 2.06 and *p* = 0.011, Table 3) and LDL-C levels (OR = 2.22 and *p* = 0.004, Table 3). Similarly, smoking was significantly associated with an increase in Tchol levels (OR = 2.18, *p* = 0.021, Table 3) and LDL-C (OR = 1.88, *p* = 0.050, Table 3) and a decrease in HDL-C (OR = 0.41, *p* = 0.001, Table 3). Participants that practiced physical exercise once per week had decreased Tchol (OR = 0.27 and *p* = 0.001, Table 3), LDL-C (OR = 0.28 and *p* = 0.001, Table 3), and HDL-C (OR = 0.40 and *p* = 0.017, Table 3) levels.


**Table 3.** Multiple logistic regression analysis with hyperlipidemia and hypertension.

OR: odds ratio, C.I: confidence interval, BMI: body mass index.
