Addressing unanswered questions about population cholesterol screenings: the Model Systems for Blood Cholesterol Screening Program.

Elevated blood cholesterol is one of the three major modifiable risk factors for heart disease. Almost 60% of adults in the United States have an elevated blood cholesterol level, yet most adults are unaware of their level. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and other organizations have now recommended that all adults be tested to assess their blood cholesterol level. New portable blood cholesterol analyzers have recently been designed and are being promoted widely for cholesterol screening. However, there are many unanswered questions about the reliability of these devices and about the usefulness of mass cholesterol screening programs. The Model Systems for Blood Cholesterol Screening Program, an NHLBI-funded effort consisting of three research projects designed to provide a systematic evaluation of these devices and of mass cholesterol screening, is described. This research will contribute to a data base from which recommendations regarding public cholesterol screening will be made.