Very few heart disease patients—just 1 in 70—have both very low 'bad' cholesterol and high 'good' cholesterol at the time they’re admitted to the hospital.
Scientific Claim
Among patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease, only 1.4% meet the combined ideal lipid criteria of LDL <70 mg/dL and HDL ≥60 mg/dL, suggesting that achieving optimal lipid profiles is rare in this population.
Original Statement
“ideal levels (LDL <70 with HDL > or =60 mg/dL) in only 1.4%.”
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 is a direct statistical report from the abstract with no causal or inferential language. The observational nature of the study does not allow for causal claims, but descriptive reporting of prevalence is valid and correctly stated.
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.
In a big study of heart disease patients, only 1.4% had both very low 'bad' cholesterol and very high 'good' cholesterol—meaning almost everyone else didn’t meet these ideal numbers.