23 Jun 2009
More people across the world have managed to decrease levels of 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a new study has revealed.
Findings published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, revealed that, over the past ten years, increasing numbers of people have lowered their LDL to acceptable ranges.
It was discovered that the amount of patients who had lowered LDL levels increased from 38 per cent to 73 per cent over the past decade.
Three-quarters of patients surveyed were taking a statin drug, with the mediation duration of therapy lasting for two years.
Researchers were unable to explain why some national results were so different - under half (47 per cent) of patients in Spain achieved LDL goals, for example, while the figure for South Korea stood at 84 per cent.
This suggests that a notable gap exists in the treatment of individuals at an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Some people with high cholesterol levels may have a relatively low cardiovascular risk because of a family history free from coronary disease or the absence of other risk factors.
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