Only one-third to one-half of Hispanics eligible to be treated with cholesterol-lowering statins are taking them, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015.
Researchers evaluated the need for high cholesterol treatment among 16,415 U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults. They found:
- 10.4 percent were being treated with statins.
- 20.5 percent were eligible for treatment based on recommendations for statin therapy eligibility under the 3rd National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel.
- 32.1 percent were eligible for the therapy under the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) treatment guidelines.
The proportion of statin-eligible adults grew among older adults according to both recommendations and among males in the ACC/AHA guidelines. There was also an increase in eligibility for statin therapy in middle-aged adults.
Researchers said regardless of the definition for statin eligibility, Hispanics are largely undertreated.
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Note: Actual presentation is 2 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015.
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