Prevalence of High Blood Cholesterol Among US Adults

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Abstract
Objective. —To estimate the current levels and trends in the proportion of US adults with high blood cholesterol based on guidelines from the second report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP II). Design. —Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys. Setting/Participants. —Data for 7775 participants 20 years of age and older from phase 1 of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) (data collected from 1988 through 1991) and for 9797 participants 20 through 74 years of age from NHANES II (data collected from 1976 through 1980) were used. Results. —From the data collection period in NHANES II (1976 through 1980) to the period in NHANES III (1988 through 1991), the proportion of adults with high blood cholesterol levels (≥240 mg/dL [6.21 mmol/L]) fell from 26% to 20%, while the proportion with desirable levels (JAMA. 1993;269:3009-3014)