Among an estimated 78 million US adults aged ≥21 years eligible for cholesterol treatment during 2005 to 2012, more than half were taking cholesterol-lowering medication, according to data analyzed from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Results also determined that within this study group:

• 55.5% were currently taking cholesterol-lowering medication.

• 46.6% reported making lifestyle modifications, such as exercising, dietary changes, or controlling their weight.

• 37.1% reported making lifestyle modifications and taking medication, and 35.5% reported doing neither.

Differences in medication use existed among sex and racial/ethnic groups.

Citation: Mercado C, DeSimone AK, Odom E, Gillespie C, Ayala C, Loustalot F. Prevalence of cholesterol treatment eligibility and medication use among adults – United States, 2005-2012. MMWR. 2015;64(47):1305-1311.

Commentary: The take home point here is that while half of all adults who should be receiving treatment for hypercholestwerolemia are on treatment, half are not. The 2013 American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association guideline recommendations for treatment include persons 1) with clinical ASCVD; 2) with LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL; 3) aged 40 to 75 years with diabetes, LDL-C 70 to 189 mg/dL, and without clinical ASCVD; or 4) aged 40 to 75 years without clinical ASCVD or diabetes with LDL-C 70 to 189 mg/dL and estimated 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%. It is important to identify and offer treatment for patients who fall into this risk category. —Neil Skolnik, MD