Health
Cholesterol screening increases but has not met goals
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 26, 2005
Screening for high blood cholesterol has increased but still has not achieved Health People 2010 goals in most of the country, according to a paper in the Sept. 9 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention analyzed data collected by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The national average for people being screened for cholesterol within the past five years increased from 68% to 73% between 1991 and 2003, with only Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts achieving the goal of having at least 80% of the population screened.
The number of people told they had high blood cholesterol also increased from 25% to 31%.
Authors of the paper said these data highlighted the need to increase awareness of the importance of monitoring cholesterol and taking steps to maintain or achieve healthy levels.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/09/26/hlbf0926.htm.
