Researchers at the CDC used a representative sample of 1,781 U.S. women, both under and over 45 years old, to estimate the proportion of the population that qualifies as “at risk” for high cholesterol. The study examined risk factors from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Heart Association (AHA), and the resulting list is exhaustive, to say the least:
DiabetesPersonal history of heart disease (CHD) or non-coronary atherosclerosis (e.g., peripheral artery disease)A family history of cardiovascular disease before age 50 in male relatives or age 60 in female relativesTobacco useHypertension Obesity (BMI ≥30)
Turns out 99.5% of women under 45, and 99.6% of women over 45, possess at least one of the risk factors. Cheryl Robbins, an epidemiologist with the CDC and lead author of the study, says this means there are probably many more people with high cholesterol than have been diagnosed. “Indequate access to preventive health care (such as cholesterol screening) is one possible explanation,” she says. “However, access to health care alone cannot solve the problem completely. As we saw in this study, unhealthy diet, abdominal obesity, and physical inactivity were prevalent among younger and older women – so lifestyle plays a huge role.” The bottom line? Lifestyle factors can put you at high risk for cholesterol, which means screening is essential. But does this mean all women should get screened? Maybe. “What we don’t know yet, and what this study doesn’t answer, is whether it would be cost-effective to screen all women over 20,” Robbins says. The CDC hopes future research will investigate whether screening young women, who weren’t previously thought of as necessarily high risk for cholesterol, will decrease deaths due to heart disease. In the meantime, awareness is key—your diet and exercise could put you at risk for cholesterol, even if you don’t have a family history of heart disease. Make sure to talk to your doctor about your risk at your next appointment, even if your whole family tree’s lipid counts are hovering under 150. More from Prevention: 12 Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally
