Women lag men in cholesterol control

	Tweet

There’s a gap between men and women when it comes to getting “bad” cholesterol under control, a new study suggests.

In an analysis of data from nearly 200 U.S. health plans, researchers found that women with diabetes or heart disease who are at elevated risk of a heart attack were less likely than men with these conditions to have their LDL cholesterol down to recommended levels. 

Among 46 commercial managed care plans, 47 percent of women with a history of heart problems had their LDL under control, versus 56 percent of men. Of patients with diabetes, 39 percent of women and 44 percent of men had optimal LDL levels, according to findings published in the journal Women’s Health Issues.

Similar gender differences were seen among the 148 Medicare plans the study analyzed.

The reasons for the gender gap aren’t certain, but several factors likely contribute, according to study co-author Dr. Sarah Hudson Scholle of the National Committee for Quality Assurance in Washington.

“Women sometimes underestimate their heart disease risk,” Scholle told Reuters Health, and this means that cholesterol control may not be a priority for many.

Similarly, some doctors underestimate women’s heart disease odds, Scholle noted. This does not seem to translate into lower rates of cholesterol screening, according to the health plan data, but it may mean that women’s cholesterol levels are less aggressively managed.

“We know that women are getting screened,” Scholle said, “but not enough attention is being paid to getting LDL levels under control.”

It’s important, she explained, for women to “know their numbers,” and then, if necessary, talk to their doctors about various ways to get their cholesterol down. An LDL reading of less than 100 mg/dL is considered optimal.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet—low in saturated fat and trans fat, and high in fruits, vegetables and high-fiber grains—can help keep cholesterol levels in check. When that’s not enough, a statin or other cholesterol-lowering drug may be needed.

More research is now needed, Scholle said, to figure out how the healthcare system can close the gender gap in cholesterol control.

SOURCE: Women Health Issues, May/June 2007. 

RELATED STORIES:
New advance announced in reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol   Cholesterol drugs safe, even after a decade of use   Green tea shows small effect on cholesterol   Cleveland Clinic researcher reports that evacetrapib can increase HDL (good) cholesterol 128 percent   Targeting cholesterol to fight deadly brain cancers   Astra’s Crestor drug fails to beat Pfizer’s Lipitor   Diet alone helps lower bad cholesterol: study   ‘Good’ cholesterol function as important as its levels   Super-sticky ‘ultra-bad’ cholesterol revealed in people at high risk of heart disease   ‘Good cholesterol’ structure identified, could help explain protective effects   Eggs are now naturally lower in cholesterol   Questions over statin prescribing

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]