High Cholesterol Rates Drop Sharply

High Cholesterol Rates Drop Sharply

Wider use of statins and less consumption of trans fats have helped

Hamza Türkkol/Getty Images The CDC defines high cholesterol as more than 240 milligrams per deciliter of blood. The rate of U.S. adults with high readings has fallen by a third during the first part of this century, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. A CDC study finds that the rate of high cholesterol — a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease — declined from 18.3 percent of the population in 1999-2000 to 12.4 percent in 2015–16. AARP Membership: The rate of high cholesterol was higher in men ages 40 to 59 (16.5 percent) than in those ages 20 to 39 (9.1 percent) and 60 and older (6.9 percent). For women, the rate was higher for those ages 40 to 59 (17.7 percent) and 60 and older (17.2 percent) than for those ages 20 to 39 (6.7 percent). The prevalence of to reduce cholesterol and a reduction in the consumption of trans fats have aided the decline, experts say. From 2003 to 2012 the ratio of adults 40 and older who use statins increased from 16.3 to 23.2 percent. The CDC defines high cholesterol as more than 240 milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood. The borderline rate is 200-240; less than 200 is desirable. In addition, 18 percent of adults in 2015-16 were deemed to have low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (or less than 40 milligrams per deciliter), down from 22.2 percent in 2007-08. That's good news because, unlike total cholesterol, higher levels of HDL are desirable. The findings come amid other studies that have found a drop in the rate of heart-related deaths.

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