From 2000 to 2006, both 'bad' and 'good' cholesterol levels in heart disease patients admitted to the hospital gradually went down.
Scientific Claim
Among patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease, both low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels declined over time between 2000 and 2006.
Original Statement
“Both LDL and HDL levels declined over time (P < .0001).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim reports a temporal trend observed in the data without implying causation. The study design is observational, so 'declined over time' is an appropriate descriptive phrase that does not overstate the findings.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Lipid levels in patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease: an analysis of 136,905 hospitalizations in Get With The Guidelines.
The study found that, over the years from 2000 to 2006, people hospitalized for heart disease had lower levels of both 'bad' (LDL) and 'good' (HDL) cholesterol when they arrived at the hospital.