Related Experiment Videos
[Should hypercholesterolemic women be treated?]
J Emmerich1, F Delahaye, E Bruckert
1Service de pathologie vasculaire, Hôpital Broussais, Paris.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for women. Early treatment for high cholesterol is advised when levels exceed 3 g/l, especially considering low HDL-cholesterol.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Context:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality in women, mirroring men.
- Hypercholesterolaemia presents a significant risk factor for CVD in women, though risk thresholds differ from men.
- Limited research exists on hypercholesterolaemia management specifically in women.
Purpose:
- To highlight the understudied issue of hypercholesterolaemia in women.
- To identify key lipid parameters (low HDL-cholesterol, high triglycerides) predictive of coronary events in women.
- To underscore the need for dedicated trials on lipid-lowering therapies for women.
Summary:
- Serum cholesterol is a risk factor for cardiovascular events in women, with increased risk observed at higher cholesterol values compared to men.
- Low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol is a strong predictor of coronary events in women, particularly when accompanied by elevated triglycerides.
- While hormone replacement therapy shows potential cardiovascular benefits, the efficacy of treating mild hypercholesterolaemia in women remains unproven. Early intervention is recommended for serum cholesterol levels above 3 g/l (7.77 mmol/l).
Impact:
- Informs clinical practice regarding cholesterol management in women.
- Identifies critical areas for future research in women's cardiovascular health.
- Emphasizes the importance of personalized risk assessment for hypercholesterolaemia in the female population.
Abstract:
There have been few studies designed to evaluate the problem of hypercholesterolaemia in women despite the fact that, like men, cardiovascular disease is their main cause of death. Serum cholesterol is a risk factor in women, but the increased risk appears at much higher values of serum cholesterol than observed in men. In women, low HDL-cholesterol seems to be the best predictive factor for the occurrence of a coronary event, especially if the triglycerides are raised. The absence of therapeutic data on the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in women underlines the need for a specific trial to assess the effects of lipid-lowering drugs in this population. The cardiovascular benefits of hormone substitute therapy at the menopause have been reported in several studies and a large scale randomised trial is under way to confirm these results. The benefit of hypercholesterolaemic therapy in women with mild hypercholesterolaemia has not been proved. When the serum cholesterol level is over 3 g/l (7.77 mmol/l), early treatment is advisable.