Re: The Cholesterol Paradox

On Wed, 3 Dec 2003 11:22:48 -0800, Robert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:


> Cholesterol levels associated with coronary artery disease when used as a
> risk factor for CAD is valid only in the younger age group. I don't 
> recall
> the cutoff but older individuals who do not have CAD and a high 
> cholesterol
> actually are better off.  This is another paradox and shows that 
> cholesterol
> per say is not the sole factor in determining outcomes or risk factors.
I certainly agree that cholesterol is not the sole factor for disease.

you must be cautious as to the definition of CAD however, and then ask 
yourself how you would prefer to be 'profiled'. many studies use a hard 
clinical event like heart attack or stroke as the measured outcome of the 
study. some use death. as we all know, these are late consequences of 
atherosclerosis and not the prefered 'profile' for ourselves.  CAD, or 
atherosclerosis, or CVD, or cardiovascular disease, or hardening of the 
arteries? how is the disease measured? you can profile someone with risk 
assesment and 'suppose' they have atherosclerosis, or you can actually 
measure it.

--
~~~
Patrick Blanchard, M.D., A.B.F.P.
Board Certified in Family Practice
http://www.familydoctor.org/blanchard
~~~
SonoScore
Winning against heart attack and stroke
http://www.sonoscore.com