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Shocking High Cholesterol Stats Among U.S. Adults Revealed

Almost 1 in 10 adults in the United States are living with elevated cholesterol levels in their arteries, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data, covering the years 2021 to 2023, reveals that 11.3% of adults have high total cholesterol—a figure that has remained relatively consistent since cholesterol-lowering statins became widely used in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The CDC’s analysis, led by researcher Margaret Carroll, shows that while high total cholesterol rates dropped between 1999-2000 and 2013-2014, they have remained largely unchanged since then. The study also found no significant difference in cholesterol levels between men (10.6%) and women (11.9%).

The data, derived from an ongoing national health survey, also highlights positive trends. The percentage of adults with dangerously low levels of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, often referred to as “good” cholesterol, has significantly decreased. Between 2021 and 2023, 13.8% of adults had unhealthily low HDL levels, a marked improvement from 22.2% in 2007-2008.

However, the study also uncovered certain trends linked to age and gender. For instance, high total cholesterol rates were most common among adults aged 40 to 59, with 16.7% of people in this age group having elevated cholesterol. In contrast, cholesterol levels tended to drop as people entered their 60s and 70s, with rates falling to 11.3% in individuals over 65.

In terms of low HDL cholesterol levels, men were disproportionately affected, with 21.5% of men having low HDL compared to only 6.6% of women. This difference is largely attributed to the protective effects of estrogen, which helps raise HDL cholesterol levels in women. However, this benefit diminishes after menopause. Dr. Leslie Cho, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, explained that the decline in estrogen after menopause often leads to an increase in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, raising the risk of artery blockages that can result in heart attacks and strokes.

The CDC defines high total cholesterol as a blood level of 240 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher, while low HDL cholesterol is defined as a blood level of 40 mg/dL or lower.