Treating hyperlipidemia in African Americans

The purpose of this paper is to provide information concerning the treatment of hyperlipidemia in African Americans. There is a similar prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in Blacks and Whites, but Blacks have been neglected in most pharmacological studies of hyperlipidemia. Intimal atherosclerotic involvement of the aorta and coronary artery occurs in young Black and White males. Epidemiological studies suggest there is a higher mortality rate due to coronary disease in Blacks vs Whites in the United States. Thirty-four percent of Blacks require a fasting lipid profile and 9% of Black adults aged 20 years or older would require lipid-lowering therapy. However, fewer Blacks (26%) than Whites (47%) are aware of their hypercholesterolemia. Studies with lovastatin and pravastatin show efficacy in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) is designed to determine all-cause mortality for subjects receiving pravastatin vs a control group receiving "usual care." Randomized, blinded, prospective trials are needed to assess the impact of hyperlipidemia as a risk factor, and the impact of its reduction in African Americans.