THE EFFECT OF BLOOD GLUCOSE AND CHOLESTEROL MEASUREMENTS IN DETECTING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN TIMOR LESTE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE STUDY

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in developing countries such as Timor-Leste. The prevalence of this disease continues to increase, but early detection remains limited due to inadequate medical facilities. Blood glucose and HDL cholesterol, together with the FBG/HDL-C ratio, have been shown to be important indicators in detecting the risk of CVD. This study aims to explore the effect of blood glucose and cholesterol measurements in detecting cardiovascular disease risk in Timor-Leste. This study used the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, which collected and analyzed various relevant studies on blood glucose and HDL cholesterol measurements in detecting CVD risk. The literature search was conducted through the Scopus database using keywords related to blood glucose measurement, cholesterol, and FBG/HDL-C ratio in the context of CVD detection.  The results showed that blood glucose and HDL cholesterol measurements were significantly correlated with an increased risk of CVD. The FBG/HDL-C ratio proved to be more effective in predicting cardiovascular disease risk than separate measurements of glucose or cholesterol. The study also highlighted the importance of applying this ratio in developing countries, including Timor-Leste, given the limited medical resources available. The use of the FBG/HDL-C ratio can strengthen the early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially in countries with limited medical facilities such as Timor-Leste. Although blood glucose and cholesterol measurements are already widely performed, combining the two in a single ratio provides a more accurate picture of heart disease risk. This ratio can be applied practically and affordably, enabling earlier detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Blood glucose, HDL cholesterol, FBG/HDL-C ratio, cardiovascular disease, early detection, Timor-Leste