NCHS Data Briefs

NCHS Data Brief, No. 177 - Prescription Cholesterol-lowering Medication Use in Adults Aged 40 and Over: United States, 2003–2012

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Nearly one in three Americans dies of heart disease or stroke. Elevated blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for CVD, and statin therapy has been strongly associated with a reduced risk of atherosclerotic CVD. The national cholesterol treatment guidelines outline the importance of using cholesterol-lowering medications for the prevention of coronary heart disease. Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, this report evaluates recent trends in prescription cholesterol-lowering medication use among U.S. adults aged 40 and over.

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