Almost half did not reach their goal. Thus, only 22 percent of the 1,494 patients who qualified for medications had their cholesterol under control.
Among all ethnic groups studied, only one in five Americans who qualify to take drugs to lower their high cholesterol levels have their LDL cholesterol under control.
"We were interested in assessing how often people are getting their cholesterol treated when it is high enough to warrant treatment," Goff said. "Treating high cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease by about 30 percent."
MESA researchers enrolled study participants in 2001 and 2002 in six metropolitan areas: Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, MinneapolisSt. Paul, New York City and Winston-Salem, N.C. The study was designed to have a diverse ethnic mix.
Participants were age 45 to 84 at their time of entry and had no symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Each completed a health survey, underwent a physical exam and laboratory tests, and some had imaging studies. In assessing enrollees' cholesterol levels and need for cholesterol-lowering treatment, the researchers used 2001 treatment guidelines commonly known as ATPIII. The Adult Treatment Panel of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's National Cholesterol Education Program formulated the ATPIII guidelines.
ATPIII recommends treatment based on a person's blood level of LDL cholesterol. The threshold level for LDL treatment, either with lifestyle changes or drugs, depends on whether a person has heart disease, diabetes or other risk factors, Goff said.
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