title: Cholesterol management in the United States: the national health and nutrition examination survey, 1999 to 2006.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assesses (1) the prevalence of ever having a blood test for cholesterol, (2) current practices of following advice from a health care professional to manage high cholesterol, and (3) the association between total serum cholesterol level and following the advice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 17,260 adults aged 20 and older participated in the interview and medical examination in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2006). Cholesterol management was examined among adults previously diagnosed with high cholesterol who were advised to change their lifestyles through low-fat diets, weight loss, or exercise and/or to take medications. Five analytic groups were defined: (1) Those taking medications only, (2) those making one or more lifestyle changes, (3) those making one or two lifestyle changes and taking medications, (4) those making three lifestyle changes and taking medications, and (5) those not following any advice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 69% and 80% of adults advised to lower cholesterol reported following advice to control their cholesterol. Adults on medication only and adults with lifestyle changes and medication were more likely to have cholesterol level below 240 mg/dL compared with adults with lifestyle changes only (medication only: odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-5.8); one or two lifestyle changes and medication: OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 3.1-5.4; three lifestyle changes and medication: OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 3.0-6.2; referent: one or two or three lifestyle changes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of medication and lifestyle changes was more strongly associated with decreasing cholesterol compared with making one or more lifestyle changes without medication use.
authors: Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782, USA. syoon1@cdc.gov
authors: Sung Sug Sarah
authors: SS
authors: Yoon
authors: Margaret D
authors: MD
authors: Carroll
authors: Clifford L
authors: CL
authors: Johnson
authors: Qiuping
authors: Q
authors: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol