Goff DC Jr et al. (2006) Dyslipidemia prevalence, treatment, and control in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA): gender, ethnicity, and coronary artery calcium. Circulation 113: 647–656

Treating dyslipidemia can lower the risk of coronary heart disease. The National Cholesterol Education Program's third report of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) makes recommendations to health-care professionals regarding the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) investigated the prevalence and treatment of dyslipidemia in a cohort of healthy individuals to assess the challenges facing implementation of these guidelines.

In this study, 6,814 individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease (mean age 62.0 years) completed an initial physical examination. The prevalence of dyslipidemia, as defined by ATP III, was 29.3% overall. Dyslipidemia prevalence was similar among non-Hispanic white, black and Hispanic participants, but less prevalent in Chinese individuals. Overall, 54.0% of patients with dyslipidemia were receiving lipid-lowering treatment. Dyslipidemia was more prevalent in older age-groups than in younger age-groups and approximately 30% more common in men than in women. Men with dyslipidemia were about 20% less likely to receive treatment than women with the condition, and 30% less likely to have their dyslipidemia controlled. Control of dyslipidemia was less common in individuals at high and intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease than in low-risk individuals.

Dyslipidemia, as defined by ATP III, is common in individuals without known clinical cardiovascular disease, but treatment and control are suboptimal, particularly in those at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to improve the treatment and control of this condition, and to eliminate any disparities between different patient groups.