Elevated blood cholesterol levels represent an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), heart attack and stroke. The risk increases further when other factors such as genetics, high blood pressure, smoking and sedentary lifestyle or diabetes mellitus are added. More than 50 percent of Europeans exhibit raised cholesterol. [1]
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 133 million people in the five largest EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) suffer from high levels of cholesterol. Worldwide, about 17 million deaths due to CVD occur each year. [2] Several cholesterol types exist; some may play a beneficial role while others are associated with risk. [3] Several clinical studies have shown an association between increased levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and an increased risk of cardiovascular events.
The WHO has identified the control of cholesterol, as part of the Total Risk Approach to prevent CVD. [4] Cholesterol reduction is essential in primary and secondary prevention of CVD to reduce morbidity and premature mortality globally. Since elevated cholesterol levels initially cause no symptoms, they often remain undetected for a long time. For this reason, it is important to check cholesterol levels on a regular basis.
DiaSys Lipid panel please refer to our Website: Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Risk.
More information about Cholesterol Day 2020 can be found on the website of Lipid-Liga.
References
- World Health Organization. (2016). Raised total cholesterol (≥5.0 mmol/L), Data by WHO region. Retrieved January 9, 2019 from http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.2570?lang=en
- Mendis S, Puska P, Norrving B. Global Atlas on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization in collaboration with the World Heart Federation and the World Stroke Organization; 2011.
- National Human Genome Research Institute. Learning about Familial Hypercholesterolemia. www.genome.gov/25520184. Accessed August 2014.
- World Health Organization. Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Guidelines for Assessment and Management of Cardiovascular Risk. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2007.
