"Invisible Killer" Hyperlipidemia accounts for 63.8 billion yuan in health insurance, and the mortality rate among young adults is not inferior to that of the elderly! Medical unveils low-density cholesterol control standards
As many as 5 million people in Taiwan have high blood lipids, accounting for NT$63.8 billion in health insurance expenditures
“Do you know your cholesterol number?” Hyperlipidemia is an asymptomatic silent cardiovascular killer. According to statistics, 4 of the top 7 causes of death in 2022 will be related to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Huang Baixun, chairman of the Taiwan Blood Lipid and Arteriosclerosis Society and attending physician at the Department of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, pointed out that about 25.6% of the 19.4 million people in Taiwan over the age of 20 have hyperlipidemia, which affects 5 million people, and every 4 people have hyperlipidemia. One person may be a hyperlipidemia patient.
Director Shi Chongliang of the Central Health Insurance Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare reminded that the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases has continued to increase in the past decade, and up to 79% of them are caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Data in 2019 shows that related medical expenses accounted for 10% of health insurance expenditures. % nearly 63.8 billion yuan. However, about 80% of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented. It is urgent to raise Taiwanese people’s awareness of hyperlipidemia and call for regular testing. Taiwanese people can make good use of the National Health Insurance Mobile Quick Pass to learn about their blood lipid levels and health education information.
The diagnosis rate of hyperlipidemia in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea is similar to that of the elderly in young adults
“Hyperlipidemia is an important risk factor for heart disease, but people only mention it in passing when talking about hypertension and diabetes. This is reflected in the fact that the diagnosis rate of hypertension in Taiwan is only about 50%, especially among young people!” said Chairman Huang Baixun. In Taiwan, the diagnosis rate of diabetes is 77%, the diagnosis rate of hypertension is 63%, and the diagnosis rate of hyperlipidemia is only about 52%, which is also lower than Japan (80%) and South Korea (63%) in Asia.
Chairman Huang Baixun pointed out that many middle-aged and middle-aged people believe that “atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a disease only experienced by the elders.” However, in fact, the death rate of young and middle-aged people aged 25-64 is only 3% higher than that of those aged 65 and above. %. In particular, the middle-aged and middle-aged people are mostly the “carrying generation” with elders and children. Once heart disease and cardiovascular events suddenly occur, it will have a severe impact on the career planning, quality of life and financial burden of the generation. Early control of hyperlipidemia is an important issue affecting all Taiwanese people.
High blood lipids are three times higher in heart disease, and low-density lipoprotein is the main culprit
Liu Bingyan, Secretary General of the Blood Lipid and Arteriosclerosis Society of Taiwan and Director of the Internal Medicine Department of Chengdu University Hospital, pointed out that patients with hyperlipidemia have three times the risk of heart disease than healthy people. The main reason is low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly known as “bad cholesterol” -Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, LDL-C too much. Low-density lipoprotein is like a bad person who litters the blood vessels. It will leave cholesterol on the blood vessel walls. As more and more “garbage” accumulates, the blood vessels will become narrower and narrower. As less blood can pass through, symptoms such as poor physical strength, dizziness and drowsiness will follow, and the chance of blood vessel blockage will also increase.
Director Liu Bingyan pointed out that low-density lipoprotein blockage in the cardiovascular system can cause acute myocardial infarction; if it occurs in the brain, it can cause stroke; if it occurs in peripheral arteries, it can cause peripheral vascular obstruction. It will also increase the risk of other three high diseases, fatty liver, and chronic kidney disease.
Liu Bingyan called on Taiwanese to refer to the latest version of the “Clinical Treatment Guidelines for Dyslipidemia in High-Risk Patients in Taiwan” which recommends paying attention to the control of low-density lipoprotein. The general public should control it below 130 mg/dL; patients with diabetes and kidney disease should control it below 100 mg/dL. below; for high-risk groups who have experienced cardiovascular events, or even ultra-high-risk groups who have repeated cardiovascular events, they should be controlled below 70 mg/dL and 55 mg/dL respectively.
Multiple options for treating hyperlipidemia. Drug allergies should be discussed with a physician.
Director Liu Bingyan said that there are currently multiple treatment options for hyperlipidemia, including oral statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors (Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors), and injectable PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9 Inhibitors), which can reduce bad cholesterol. In order to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, patients can discuss their expectations for treatment with doctors through “shared decision-making between doctors and patients” and jointly create a personalized treatment course.
Chairman Huang Baixun reminded that about 1/3 of patients with ASCVD will discontinue medication for blood lipid-lowering treatment within a year, which may affect long-term hyperlipidemia control and cardiovascular health. A very small number of patients have allergies to cholesterol drugs. When related symptoms occur, the cause and effect should be clarified first, and the cause of the allergy should be confirmed to be caused by the drug. If it is confirmed that the allergy is caused by the drug, you can discuss with the doctor whether to change the drug or use anti-allergic drugs.
Don’t be wary of hyperlipidemia until you have a stroke and get a stent! Everyone should be tested regularly every 1 to 2 years
“Hyperlipidemia is an important factor affecting cardiovascular health. Everyone should have regular check-ups within 1-2 years to confirm the cholesterol number to prevent asymptomatic hyperlipidemia from causing myocardial infarction. It will not be controlled until stroke or cardiac stent placement. It’s too late. Once the LDL cholesterol exceeds 190, it is considered a high risk of cardiovascular disease or may have hereditary hyperlipidemia and requires early treatment!”
Chairman Huang Baixun called on ethnic groups with more risk factors to be advised to control low-density lipoprotein to a lower range. In recent years, the Blood Lipid and Arteriosclerosis Society of Taiwan has promoted “Do you know how high your cholesterol is?” in the hope of raising awareness among the public. Awareness of one’s own hyperlipidemia problem. If you forget your blood lipid values or control standards, you can quickly check relevant values and health education resources by opening the “National Health Insurance Mobile Quick Access”.
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