When people with heart disease are first admitted to the hospital, their 'bad' cholesterol is usually around 105, which is higher than what doctors now recommend.
Scientific Claim
Among patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease, the mean admission level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is 104.9 mg/dL, indicating that most patients have levels above the guideline-recommended target of <70 mg/dL.
Original Statement
“Mean lipid levels were LDL 104.9 +/- 39.8 mg/dL.”
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 uses descriptive language based on observed means, which matches the observational nature of the study. No causal or probabilistic verbs are used. The finding is accurately presented as a measurement, not a recommendation.
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 on average, people admitted to the hospital with heart disease had cholesterol levels much higher than the recommended safe level, and most of them weren’t even taking medicine to lower it.