Population screening for plasma cholesterol: Community-based results from Connecticut

Plasma cholesterol levels were measured in 15,892 participants of a cholesterol screening in Hartford, Connecticut. The screenees were typically health conscious as evidenced by the low prevalence of current cigarette smoking (12%). However, more than 25% of the men and 35% of the women over the age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American heart journal Vol. 117; no. 3; pp. 649 - 656
Main Authors Wynder, E.L., Harris, R.E., Haley, N.J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.03.1989
Elsevier
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cholesterol - blood
Connecticut
Coronary Disease - prevention & control
Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia - prevention & control
Male
Mass Screening
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Middle Aged
Myocardial Infarction - prevention & control
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Connecticut
Human
Screening
United States
America
Tobacco smoking
Lipids
Metabolic diseases
North America
Epidemiology
Cholesterol
Public health
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Summary:Plasma cholesterol levels were measured in 15,892 participants of a cholesterol screening in Hartford, Connecticut. The screenees were typically health conscious as evidenced by the low prevalence of current cigarette smoking (12%). However, more than 25% of the men and 35% of the women over the age of 50 years had cholesterol levels in excess of 240 mg/dl, placing them at moderate to high risk for coronary artery disease. Results showed a pronounced dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and cholesterol levels in men of all age groups and in women of premenopausal age; however, average cholesterol levels were similar in exsmokers and subjects who had never smoked. Risk analysis revealed a strong positive association between cholesterol and prevalence of nonfatal myocardial infarctions. Notably patients with newly diagnosed hypercholesterolemia reduced their cholesterol levels an average of 40 mg/dl under the care of a physician. These results indicate that cholesterol screening coupled with physician follow-up and treatment can have a substantial impact in lowering cholesterol levels and the attendant risk of cardiovascular disease.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0002-8703
1097-6744
DOI:10.1016/0002-8703(89)90741-2