LDL cholesterol levels on the decline in the US

21 Nov 2009 - Posted by the Editorial Team

The number of adults with high levels of LDLcholesterol in the US decreased by one third between 1999 and 2006.

This is according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who also found that a high percentage of adults are still not being screened or treated for high cholesterol levels.

Using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, it was revealed that the prevalence of high LDL cholesterol decreased from 31.5 per cent in 1999-00 to 21.2 per cent in 2005-06.

"Self-reported use of lipid-lowering medications increased from eight per cent to 13.4 per cent, but screening rates did not change significantly, remaining less than 70 per cent during the study periods," the study authors concluded.

They went on to say that the target of improving screening rates may be hindered by a lack of consensus regarding the age at which the process should begin.

LDL is known as 'bad cholesterol' because it deposits cholesterol in the lining of the arteries, which can lead to heart disease.

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