Sustaining a high cholesterol level during your 30s and 40s would increase a risk of heart disease. The longer the cholesterol level remains elevated, the greater the risk is a new study has found. The research studies almost 1500 people each averaging about 55 years and who did not have any cardiovascular diseases. All of these people had their cholesterol level measured occasionally over 20 years. The researchers followed the group for the next 15 years. 155 of them developed cardiovascular diseases.
The study recorded the number of years that each subject had high levels of cholesterol. The research took into consideration non-HDL cholesterol levels or total cholesterol less HDL with a level of 160 or more, which is considered high. After eliminating factors such as smoking habits, diabetes and sex, it was found out that the risk of cardiovascular diseases were considerably high for those who’ve had cholesterol for a number of years. People who’ve had cholesterol for 11 to 20 years had a 16.5 percent risk while people who have never had elevated cholesterol had a 4.4 percent risk.
In the same way, two people of the same age who have the same level of blood pressure and cholesterol would have different risks of cardiovascular diseases. If one of them has a high cholesterol level for a year and the other for a period of 11 years, the latter will have 39% increased risk of heart diseases. The study is also intending to study the benefit of early cholesterol treatments.