[Risk status of screened population based on elevated serum cholesterol values]

The mean value of serum total cholesterol was 208 +/- 42 mg/dl for the study population. Sixty-five percent of investigated subjects had elevated cholesterol levels > 200 mg/dl. The percentage of subjects with low to moderate elevated cholesterol levels between 200-250 mg/dl was 40%, and 2% had a cholesterol higher than 300 mg/dl. Grouping the cholesterol levels by age and sex resulted in a high percentage of subjects with serum cholesterol > 200 mg/dl for the cardiovascular high-risk age group of 45-65 years old men and 55-75 years old women. Remarkably high was this percentage for women in this age-group; 71% had a cholesterol level > 200 mg/dl. In 59% of investigated women and 52% of men cholesterol should be lowered.