Only one-third to one-half of Hispanics eligible to be treated with cholesterol-lowering statins are taking them, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015.

Researchers evaluated the need for high cholesterol treatment among 16,415 U.S. Hispanic/Latino adults. They found:

  • 10.4 percent were being treated with statins.
  • 20.5 percent were eligible for treatment based on recommendations for statin therapy eligibility under the 3rd National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel.
  • 32.1 percent were eligible for the therapy under the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) treatment guidelines.

The proportion of statin-eligible adults grew among older adults according to both recommendations and among males in the ACC/AHA guidelines. There was also an increase in eligibility for statin therapy in middle-aged adults.

Researchers said regardless of the definition for statin eligibility, Hispanics are largely undertreated.

Waqas T. Qureshi M.D. M.S.; Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina;

Note: Actual presentation is 2 p.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 9, 2015.