Research suggests cholesterol levels should be checked from mid-20s

The study, published in medical journal The Lancet, is the most comprehensive yet to look at the long term health risks of having too much ‘bad’ cholesterol, maintaining that the earlier action is taken to reduce cholesterol through medication and changes to diet, the better.

The data analysed from nearly 400,000 people from 19 countries, found a strong link between high cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease from early adulthood over the next 40 or more years.

Researchers were able to estimate the likelihood of a stroke or heart attack for people aged 35 or over, according to their bad-cholesterol level, age, gender and risk factors such as diabetes, height and weight, smoking and blood pressure.

Professor Stefan Blankenberg, co-author of the report, said “The risk scores currently used in the clinic to decide whether a person should have lipid-lowering treatment only assess the risk of cardiovascular disease over 10 years and so may underestimate lifetime risk, particularly in young people.

“I strongly recommend that young people know their cholesterol levels and make an informed decision about the result – and that could include taking a statin.”

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, the British Heart Foundation’s medical director, said “This large study again emphasises the importance of cholesterol as a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke.

“It also shows that for some people, taking measures at a much earlier stage to lower cholesterol, for example by taking statins, may have a substantial benefit in reducing their lifelong risk from these diseases.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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