Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
09:15

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Published on: November 10, 2017

15.0K

Gender differences in lipid management, LDL-C goal attainment, and prescribing practices

Natasha Vartak1, Caroline Ong1, Xueqi Huang2

  • 1Northwell Health, Cardiovascular Institute, New Hyde Park, NY, USA (Drs Vartak, Ong, Weintraub, Parikh, Rosen, and Gianos).

Journal of Clinical Lipidology
|January 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Women face significant disparities in lipid management, receiving less aggressive treatment and achieving lower LDL-C goals than men. Provider gender did not influence these lipid treatment gaps, highlighting a need for targeted interventions for women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Health Disparities
  • Pharmacotherapy

Background:

  • Lipid lowering is crucial for reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) morbidity and mortality.
  • Despite guideline-recommended therapies, gender disparities persist in lipid management.
  • Women are less likely to receive aggressive treatment and achieve optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if provider gender influences lipid treatment gaps.
  • To analyze gender-based differences in lipid management and LDL-C goal attainment.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 364,021 adults from 2022-2023.
  • Abstraction of demographic, clinical, and prescribing data from electronic health records.
  • Definition of optimal LDL-C based on ASCVD risk.

Main Results:

  • Women had higher mean LDL-C (108 vs 102 mg/dL) and lower LDL-C <100 mg/dL attainment (41% vs 47%) compared to men.
  • Among those with ASCVD, women had significantly lower LDL-C <70 mg/dL attainment (31% vs 47%).
  • Women were less likely to be prescribed statins (26% vs 33%) and high-intensity statins (23% vs 31%) than men; provider gender showed no impact.

Conclusions:

  • Women with or at risk for ASCVD experience lower rates of lipid-lowering therapy prescription and LDL-C goal attainment.
  • Existing gender disparities in lipid management require targeted interventions.
  • Provider gender does not explain the observed disparities in lipid treatment for women.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseGender disparitiesLipidsPreventionProvider genderStatinsWomen’s health

More Related Videos

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring08:45

LDL Cholesterol Uptake Assay Using Live Cell Imaging Analysis with Cell Health Monitoring

Published on: November 17, 2018

14.0K
Assessing Whole-Body Lipid-Handling Capacity in Mice07:57

Assessing Whole-Body Lipid-Handling Capacity in Mice

Published on: November 24, 2020

4.7K

Related Concept Videos

Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
312
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents01:20

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents

Hyperlipidemia, a medical condition often referred to as high cholesterol, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream. When present in excess, these lipids, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides, can lead to serious health complications, often involving cardiovascular diseases. Illnesses like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and pancreatitis have all been linked to untreated hyperlipidemia. This means controlling and regulating cholesterol and triglyceride...
1.3K
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
580
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile01:25

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile

Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
548
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
1.2K
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ...
1.8K