State-specific trends in high blood cholesterol awareness among persons screened--United States, 1991-1999.

High blood cholesterol (HBC) is a major risk factor for heart disease. One of the national health objectives for 2010 is to reduce the percentage of adults aged > or = 20 years with total blood cholesterol levels of > or = 240 mg/dL (objective 12-14). One strategy for achieving this objective is to increase awareness of HBC. State-specific data allow state health departments to monitor progress in educating the public about awareness of cholesterol levels and the need for persons to maintain low levels of blood cholesterol. To examine state-specific trends in the proportion of screened adults who reported that they were told that they had HBC, CDC analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 1991 through 1999. This report summarizes the results of that analysis and indicates that approximately one fourth of screened survey participants were aware that they had HBC; this proportion increased slightly from 1991 through 1999. Awareness of HBC is a necessary step to help persons take action to lower their cholesterol level and their risk for coronary heart disease.