High Blood Pressure and Other Lipids – Statistics

Statistical Fact Sheet — Risk Factors Updated to 2008 

• 106.7 million Americans age 20 and older have total blood cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and higher:

  • 50.8 million men.
  • 55.9 million women.

 

Of these, 37.2 million have total blood cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or higher:

  • 17.2 million men.
  • 19.9 million women.

 

(NCHS and NHLBI)

• Among people age 20 and older, the following have total blood cholesterol levels over 200 mg/dL:

  • 47.9 percent of non-Hispanic white men.
  • 49.7 percent of non-Hispanic white women.
  • 44.8 percent of non-Hispanic black men.
  • 42.1 percent of non-Hispanic black women.
  • 49.9 percent of Mexican-American men.
  • 50.0 percent of Mexican-American women.

 

• Among people age 20 and older, the following have levels of 240 mg/dL or higher:

  • 16.1 percent of non-Hispanic white men.
  • 18.2 percent of non-Hispanic white women.
  • 14.1 percent of non-Hispanic black men.
  • 12.5 percent of non-Hispanic black women.
  • 16.0 percent of Mexican-American men.
  • 14.2 percent of Mexican-American women.

 

(NHANES [1999-2004], NCHS and NHLBI)

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol


• Among Americans age 20 and older, the following have an LDL cholesterol of 130 mg/dL or higher:

  • For NH whites, 31.7 percent of men and 33.8 percent of women.
  • For NH blacks, 32.4 percent of men and 29.8 percent of women.
  • For Mexican Americans, 39.0 percent of men and 30.7 percent of women.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol levels of 130-159 mg/dL are considered borderline high. Levels of 160-189 mg/dL are classified as high, and levels of 190 mg/dL or higher are very high.

(NHANES [1999-2004, NCHS and NHLBI)

High Blood Cholesterol and Other Lipids — Statistics 2

HDL (Good) Cholesterol


• Among Americans age 20 and older, the following have an HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dL:

  • For NH whites, 26.2 percent of men and 8.8 percent of women.
  • For NH blacks, 15.5 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women.
  • For Mexican Americans, 27.7 percent of men and 13.0 percent of women.

 

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol levels of less than 40 mg/dL are associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease.

(NHANES [1999-2004, NCHS and NHLBI)

Note: In U.S. government statistics, “Hispanic” includes persons who trace their ancestry to Spanish-speaking countries or other Spanish cultures, regardless of race. It doesn’t include people from countries where Spanish is not the first language.

Abbreviations Used:
NCHS –/National Center for Health Statistics
Mg/dL – milligrams per deciliter
NH – non-Hispanic
NHANES – National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NCHS
NHLBI – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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