Policy Papers
High Blood Cholesterol and Pharmaceutical Spending: Making the Most of New Treatments
High blood cholesterol is a vital medical concern because individuals with this condition are at increased risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States.1 According to the American Heart Association, as many as 99.5 million American adults meet the definition of high blood cholesterol and are at increased risk for heart attack. And according to guidelines developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP), approximately 36 million of these adults should be taking medicines to lower their cholesterol, though the number who do so is much lower.
2004-02-17.909.pdf (95.35 KB)
High blood cholesterol is a vital medical concern because individuals with this condition are at increased risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States.1 According to the American Heart Association, as many as 99.5 million American adults meet the definition of high blood cholesterol and are at increased risk for heart attack. And according to guidelines developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP), approximately 36 million of these adults should be taking medicines to lower their cholesterol, though the number who do so is much lower.
2004-02-17.909.pdf (95.35 KB)