Women with heart disease tend to have higher 'bad' cholesterol levels than men when they are first admitted to the hospital.
Scientific Claim
Among patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease, female gender is associated with higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared to male patients.
Original Statement
“Predictors for higher LDL included female gender, no diabetes, history of hyperlipidemia, no prior lipid-lowering medications, and presenting with acute coronary syndrome.”
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 abstract uses 'predictors for higher LDL included female gender,' which is appropriately interpreted as an association in an observational study. No causal language is used.
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 women admitted to the hospital with heart disease tended to have higher 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) than men, which matches the claim.