Prevention of cardiovascular disease based on lipid lowering treatment: a challenge for the Mexican health system

objective: to estimate the percentage of mexican adults that may require lipid-lowering treatment according to national cholesterol education program-iii guidelines, using data from the national health and nutrition survey 2006 (ensanut 2006). material and methods: information was obtained from 4 040 subjects aged 20 to 69 years, studied after a 9 to 12 hours fast. results: a cardiovascular risk equivalent was found in 13.8% and >2 risk factors were present in 31.5% of the population. ldl-c concentrations were above the treatment goal in 70% of the high-risk group and in 38.6% of subjects with >2 risk factors. nearly 12 million mexicans should be taught how to change their lifestyles and close to 8 million individuals require drug therapy to decrease their cardiovascular risk. conclusions: thirty percent of mexican adults require some form of lipid-lowering treatment (lifestyle modifications in 36.25%, drug therapy in 24.19%).