"Optimize Heart Health: Are You Taking This Vital Medication?"

Elevating Heart Health Awareness: A Crucial Look at Cholesterol Medication Usage in the U.S.

Heart attacks are a prevalent health concern in the United States, with someone experiencing a myocardial infarction every 40 seconds, as per the 2025 data from the American Heart Association. What is even more alarming is the estimated 605,000 Americans who face a heart attack for the first time each year.

These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing our health, especially considering the wealth of information available on proactive measures such as consuming heart-healthy foods, engaging in regular exercise, and utilizing medications as necessary.

One class of medications that plays a vital role in heart attack prevention is cholesterol-lowering drugs, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks by 25% to 35%, according to insights from Harvard Health. Nevertheless, a recent study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals a concerning trend – only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from these medications are actually using them, potentially leading to severe health consequences.

The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine in June 2025, analyzed data from nearly 5,000 adults participating in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 2013 and 2020, aged between 40 and 75 years.

According to a press release from Johns Hopkins, a significant portion of the study participants (89%) had no history of a major cardiovascular event, categorizing them as the primary prevention group. Surprisingly, while 47% of this group met the criteria for cholesterol-lowering medication based on U.S. guidelines, only 23% were actually taking these drugs.

The researchers also highlighted that among the 11% of participants with a prior major cardiovascular event, only 68% were receiving any LDL-lowering treatment, even though all of them were deemed eligible for such treatment under U.S. and European guidelines.

These findings underscore the importance of addressing this treatment gap, as doing so could prevent approximately 100,000 non-fatal heart attacks and up to 65,000 strokes annually in the U.S. Furthermore, adhering to these guidelines could lead to the avoidance of tens of thousands of heart-related procedures, including bypass or stent-placement surgeries.

The study's senior author, Dr. Seth S. Martin, emphasizes the critical need for action in managing high cholesterol, stating, "High cholesterol is an important chronic health condition that silently claims far too many lives – there are millions of people walking around with this condition that don’t even know they have it, and then when it is recognized, it too often goes undertreated."

Dr. Martin, a cardiologist and professor at Johns Hopkins, stresses the importance of evidence-based interventions to bridge the treatment gap and prevent devastating cardiovascular events.

By ensuring that all eligible individuals receive the necessary treatment, which may include non-statin LDL-lowering drugs in certain cases, the researchers estimate a potential 27% decrease in major cardiovascular events across the U.S.

For more health-related updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram.

Conclusion

Addressing the gaps in cholesterol medication usage among Americans is crucial for preventing heart attacks and strokes. By raising awareness and promoting adherence to treatment guidelines, we can significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the U.S.