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Nearly half of Americans who need cholesterol treatment not taking medication

Despite more than one-third of Americans qualifying for cholesterol treatment under recent national guidelines, nearly half are not taking medication, according to a recent report published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

CDC researchers also found that women were more likely than men, and blacks and Mexican Americans were less likely than whites to be taking cholesterol-lowering medications.

"Nearly 800,000 people die in the U.S. each year from [CVDs] — that’s one in every three deaths — and high cholesterol continues to be a major risk factor," Carla Mercado, MD, a scientist in CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, said in a press release from the agency. "This study reveals opportunities to reduce existing disparities through targeted patient education and cholesterol management programs."

Researchers analyzed data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and determined patients' eligibility with 2013 cholesterol guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Results showed that 36.7% of U.S. adults aged at least 21 years were on or eligible for cholesterol treatment. Among that group, 55.5% were taking cholesterol medication and 46.6% had made lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol. Mercado and colleagues reported that 37.1% of the eligible group had made lifestyle changes in addition to taking medication and 35.5% had done neither.

Data analysis also demonstrated differences between men (40.8%) and women (32%; P .001) who were eligible for or already on medication as well as between Mexican Americans (24.2%), whites (38.4%) and blacks (39.5%; P < .001).

Within these groups, results showed differences in adults who were taking medications; 52.9% of men vs. 58.6% of women (P = .01) and 58% of whites vs. 47.1% of Mexican Americans vs. 46% of blacks (P < .001).

Additionally, researchers noted that 88% of adults taking medication to lower their cholesterol were taking statins.

Mercado and colleagues wrote that reducing the risk for atherosclerotic CVD via various cholesterol treatments is promoted throughout the country, through activities and programs such as Healthy People 2020, the Million Hearts initiative and Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation.

"These include and provide healthy behavior support for populations at risk and provide comprehensive and effective management of primary [CVD] risk factors," Mercado and colleagues concluded. "Coordinated community and clinical programs are needed to better identify all persons now eligible for cholesterol treatment." – by Chelsea Frajerman Pardes

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.