Abstract
The prevailing view is that elevated blood serum cholesterol is the primary controllable risk factor (as opposed to uncontrollable risk factors, such as age and genetics) in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). Reports in the media state rather convincingly that lowering cholesterol dramatically reduces the risk of death from atherosclerosis and CHD. However, reducing cholesterol levels confer an absolute death benefit of 1/1,000 individuals when compared to individuals with elevated cholesterol. The benefits of lowering blood serum cholesterol continue to be a contentious and controversial issue in the medical community. Information presented to doctors and patients tends to be misleading and difficult to interpret. This is due, in large part, to the use of relative risks rather than absolute values when communicating information on cholesterol risks. In light of this situation, a unique graphic, functioning as a decision aid, has been developed to enable physicians and patients to jointly assess the benefits of lowering blood serum cholesterol numbers. Putting the complexities of risk analysis in terms patients can understand, means they patients will be able to make well-informed decisions about their health.
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Rifkin, E., Lazris, A. (2015). Cholesterol Screening. In: Interpreting Health Benefits and Risks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11544-3_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11544-3_15
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