U.S. Women Lagging Behind Men for Cholesterol Control

WEDNESDAY, May 16 (HealthDay News) -- Women in the United States are much less likely than men to have their LDL ("bad") cholesterol controlled to recommended levels, a new study finds.
Elevated LDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States.

Researchers at the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) looked at 11 measures of cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention, treatment and risk factors among patients in 46 commercial managed care plans and 148 Medicare plans.
On most of the measures, women had equal or better outcomes than men.
However, women were up to 10 percent less likely than men to have their cholesterol levels under control. The researchers said the findings suggest that women and their doctors may underestimate women's risk for high cholesterol and heart disease, resulting in poorer cholesterol control.
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