Despite reductions in prevalence, 26.8 percent with an LDL-C level of 190 mg\/dL or greater were unaware in 2017 to 2020<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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THURSDAY, Nov. 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) — From 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, there was a reduction in the prevalence of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), although a considerable proportion are still unaware and untreated, according to a research letter published online Nov. 1 in JAMA Cardiology<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ahmed Sayed, M.B.B.S., from Ain Shams University in Cairo, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to identify U.S. adults with LDL-C levels of 160 to 189 mg\/dL and \u00e2\u0089\u00a5190 mg\/dL from 1999-2000 to 2017-2020. Overall, 23,667 participants were included, of whom 7.8 and 2.8 percent had an LDL-C level of 160 to 189 mg\/dL and \u00e2\u0089\u00a5190 mg\/dL, respectively.<\/p>\n The researchers found that from 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, the age-adjusted prevalence of an LDL-C level of 160 to 189 mg\/dL and \u00e2\u0089\u00a5190 mg\/dL decreased from 12.4 to 6.1 percent and from 3.8 to 2.1 percent, respectively. Among those with an LDL-C level of 160 to 189 mg\/dL, the fraction who were unaware and untreated decreased from 52.1 to 42.7 percent from 1999-2000 to 2017-2020, while that of those with an LDL-C level \u00e2\u0089\u00a5190 mg\/dL decreased from 40.8 to 26.8 percent. Among those with elevated LDL-C, younger adults, men, racial and ethnic minority groups, those with lower educational attainment, those with lower income, and those without health insurance were more often unaware.<\/p>\n “Among those with an LDL-C of 190 mg\/dL or greater, one in four are unaware and untreated, with a higher proportion for an LDL-C of 160 to 189 mg\/dL,” the authors write. “Strategies to identify and treat these individuals may improve outcomes and reduce disparities.”<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n