The purpose of this paper is to provide information concerning the treatment of
hyperlipidemia in African Americans. There is a similar prevalence of
hypercholesterolemia in Blacks and Whites, but Blacks have been neglected in most pharmacological studies of
hyperlipidemia. Intimal atherosclerotic involvement of the aorta and coronary artery occurs in young Black and White males. Epidemiological studies suggest there is a higher mortality rate due to
coronary disease in Blacks vs Whites in the United States. Thirty-four percent of Blacks require a fasting
lipid profile and 9% of Black adults aged 20 years or older would require
lipid-lowering
therapy. However, fewer Blacks (26%) than Whites (47%) are aware of their
hypercholesterolemia. Studies with
lovastatin and
pravastatin show efficacy in the treatment of
hypercholesterolemia. The
Antihypertensive and
Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent
Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) is designed to determine all-cause mortality for subjects receiving
pravastatin vs a control group receiving "usual care." Randomized, blinded, prospective trials are needed to assess the impact of
hyperlipidemia as a risk factor, and the impact of its reduction in African Americans.