Women and Heart Disease > Evaluation and Prevention
Dyslipidemia
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Serum lipid levels are important markers for CAD, and hypercholesterolemia contributes to atherosclerosis in CAD. Maintaining low triglyceride levels, low total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, and adequate high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels should be universal patient management goals (Table 1). Cholesterol screening is recommended for all adult patients, regardless of their cardiovascular risk status. Table 1. Classification of LDL, Total, and HDL Cholesterol and Serum Triglycerides (mg/dL)
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Almost 100 million adult Americans have a total cholesterol level >200 mg/dL.2 Beginning at age 45, a higher percentage of women than men have levels of  200 mg/dL.1 The increase in LDL and decrease in HDL cholesterol associated with menopause may also contribute to CAD risk among older women.13 Despite their higher prevalence of high cholesterol, women are less likely than men to be aware of their condition.2
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