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Cholesterol and coronary heart disease mortality
Author(s) -
Sleight Peter
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1992.tb00480.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cholesterol , epidemiology , clinical trial , public health , saturated fat , blood pressure , population , coronary heart disease , disease , adverse effect , confusion , environmental health , pathology , psychology , psychoanalysis
The epidemiological relation between increased levels of blood cholesterol and increased risk of future heart disease is clear, both within and between countries. These strong relationships have led to the adoption of consensus statements in most countries which recommend measures such as the reduction of dietary saturated fat/an increase in the polyunsaturated/saturated ratio and other dietary and sometimes drug methods to reduce serum cholesterol. There is controversy as to whether these measures should be targeted at individuals with high levels of cholesterol or whether there should be a public health approach to the whole population. The public and medical debate has become more heated since the data from intervention trials are conflicting. Taken overall the trials do appear to show reduction in risk of coronary which is stronger for non fatal, compared with fatal coronary events. Meta analysis suggests that increasing benefit accrues from larger reductions and also longer reductions in cholesterol by intervention. However, individual trials frequently show variable results and some, especially the recent 15 year follow up of a Finnish five year intervention (by diet, cholesterol lowering and blood pressure lowering drugs) was strikingly adverse—although the total number of events was not large. Total mortality is much harder to influence and the sum of the available trials is hopelessly inadequate in size to address these questions. As a result confusion abounds and is unlikely to be clarified by the present on going trials. The need for more data is clear. The pilot study for the Oxford Cholesterol Study will be presented as a prelude for a proposed main study in about 20 000 high risk individuals.