Report Details Prevalence of High Blood Cholesterol in Upstate New York

ROCHESTER, NY (09/16/2009)(readMedia)-- Forty percent of adults in upstate New York who have been screened have been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, and annual treatment costs are an estimated $221 million, according to a new report issued today by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

"As your blood cholesterol level rises, so does your risk of developing heart disease, which is why it's so important to have your blood cholesterol level measured," said Dr. Robert J. Holzhauer, Excellus BCBS vice president and chief medical officer. In upstate New York, more than 1.5 million adults are impacted by high blood cholesterol, and heart disease is the most frequent killer of adults, causing more than 28 percent of all deaths in the region from 2003 to 2005 (the most recent data available).

The Excellus BCBS study, "The Facts about High Blood Cholesterol among Upstate New York Adults," also reveals that nearly 20 percent of the adult population has never been screened, a troubling statistic because high blood cholesterol has no known symptoms.

"Drugs that treat lipid disorders, including cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins, account for eight percent of our health plan's total pharmacy expense," Holzhauer noted, "and that's a worthwhile expense because it saves lives and improves quality of life."

Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. A person's cholesterol level is determined partly by his or her genetic makeup, but also by his or her diet and lifestyle. A blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dl or greater is considered "high," but any level above 200 mg/dl, even in the "borderline-high" category, increases the risk of heart disease.

Researchers have identified several risk factors for high blood cholesterol, some of which could be addressed by changes in personal behaviors:

• A diet high in saturated fat
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease

Several of these risk factors are prevalent in upstate New York. Sixty-one percent of adults are overweight or obese. Twenty-three percent smoke. Twenty-nine percent have hypertension. Nearly 9 percent have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

"When a high blood cholesterol level is combined with another major risk factor, the risk for heart disease increases even further," Holzhauer said. "For example, if your cholesterol level is in the 'high' category and you smoke, your risk for developing heart disease increases more than 20-fold."

Holzhauer added, "The takeaway from this report is that everyone should have his or her blood cholesterol level measured, and then discuss the results with his or her doctor."

The full library of reports and fact sheets is available on the Web by going to http://www.excellusbcbs.com and clicking on "Health Policy and Research" at the bottom of the page. Then scroll down to find "Fact Sheets, Surveys & Reports." Topics include high blood cholesterol, leading causes of death, diabetes, smoking and obesity.

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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, is part of a family of companies that finances and delivers vital health care services to 1.8 million people across upstate New York. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield provides access to high-quality, affordable health coverage, including valuable health-related resources that our members use every day, such as cost-saving prescription drug discounts and wellness tracking tools in our Step Up program. To learn more, visit www.excellusbcbs.com