High cholesterol: key points

• A high cholesterol level in the blood is a clinical risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke and is also linked to diabetes and high blood pressure.
• The risk factors for high cholesterol include a fatty diet, lack of exercise, drinking alcohol to excess, inherited conditions, some ethnic groups and getting older.
• The consensus in the UK is that 5.0 mmol/l is the point at which the total cholesterol level becomes 'raised'.
• An estimated 56% of Scottish men and 56% of Scottish women aged 16-64 in 2010/11 had a cholesterol level greater than 5.0 mmol/l (including those on lipid lowering medication). This compares to 70% of Scottish men and 68% of Scottish women in 1995.
• A large proportion of these people do not attend their GP practice. An estimated 0.7% of the population, who were registered, (approximately 37,660 people) consulted a member of the general practice team at least once during 2012/13 because of a high cholesterol level.