QuickStats: Prevalence of High Total Cholesterol Among Adults Aged 20 Years or Older by Age Group and Sex

During 2015–2018, the prevalence of high total cholesterol among adults aged 20 years or older was 11.4%, with no significant difference between men (10.5%) and women (12.1%). Prevalence was highest among adults aged 40–59 years (15.7%), followed by those aged 60 years or older (11.4%), and lowest among those aged 20–39 years (7.5%).

Among men, the prevalence was highest among those aged 40–59 years (14.5%), followed by those aged 20–39 years (9.5%), and lowest among those aged 60 years or older (6.0%).

Among women, the pattern was different, with women aged 20–39 years (5.5%) having a lower prevalence than either women aged 40–59 years (16.9%) or women aged 60 years or older (15.9%).

Prevalence among women aged 20–39 years was lower than that among men in this age group, but prevalence was higher among women aged 60 years or older than it was among men of that age group. There was no significant difference between men and women for adults aged 40–59 years.

Sources: Carroll MD, Fryar CD. Total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in adults: United States, 2015–2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 363. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db363.htm. National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6922a5.htm