Time to lower cholesterol: the potential effect of cholesterol reduction on the incidence of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease imposes a major burden on our community through its high morbidity, mortality and health-care costs. Elevated cholesterol levels have been recognized increasingly as an important and modifiable risk factor for this disease. We assessed the impact of a reduction in cholesterol levels in our community and compared its importance with the reduction of another major risk factor for this disease, namely, smoking. Results from this analysis indicate that a greater proportion of cardiovascular disease can be attributed to elevated cholesterol levels compared with smoking in our population. This difference is due largely to the prevalence of elevated cholesterol levels in the community. Evidence from international studies indicates that a 5% reduction in the cholesterol level of Australians is a realistic health target for the population and that this reduction would lead to a major reduction in the burden of cardiovascular disease and to substantial economic savings. This paper provides further evidence to support the National Heart Foundation of Australia's recommendations for a reduction of cholesterol levels in the Australian population.
Plant
A J
AJ
Department of Public Health, University of Sydney, NSW.
Pierce
J P
JP
Rushworth
R L
RL
Goldstein
G B
GB
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000074606:Smoking Prevention
D002784:Cholesterol