Good news, bad news. A recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control finds that high cholesterol is on the decline in the U.S., but it also finds that far too many people with high cholesterol are not taking appropriate medication.
Who's eligible for such medication? According to the American College of Cardiology, 78 million Americans (36.7 percent of the population) fall into one of the following categories that justifies LDL-lowering medication:
- People with heart disease, a prior heart attack or some types of stroke, or angina.
- People with LDL cholesterol levels of 190 mg/dL or more.
- People ages 40 to 75 with diabetes and LDL cholesterol levels of 70-189 mg/dL.
- People ages 40-75 with LDL cholesterol levels of 70-189 mg/dL and an estimated 10-year risk of heart disease of 7.5 percent or more.
But only 55.5 percent of that population reported taking drugs to lower their LDL level. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' goal is to get 65 percent of Americans to manage high LDL levels by 2017.
"Nearly 800,000 people die in the U.S. each year from cardiovascular diseases — that's one in every three deaths — and high cholesterol continues to be a major risk factor," said Carla Mercado, a scientist in the division for heart disease and stroke prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Additionally, less than half of those who are either eligible for cholesterol-lowering drugs or are already on such medication are making the necessary lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, the survey found.
But only 37 percent of the at-risk population reported both taking medication and engaging in the necessary lifestyle changes. A similar portion of the population, 35.5 percent, reported doing neither.
According to the study, blacks and whites have similar rates of high cholesterol, at 39.5 percent and 38.4 percent, respectively. Mexican-Americans have a significantly lower rate: 24.2 percent.
However, only 46 percent of blacks and 47 percent of Mexican-Americans eligible for treatment are currently on medication, compared to 58 percent of whites.
"This study reveals opportunities to reduce existing disparities through targeted patient education and cholesterol management programs," said Mercado.
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