(ARA) - Results from a new national survey from the National Lipid Association show that although physicians are aware of the dangers of high triglycerides, patients -- including those at greatest risk -- are unaware of the heart risks they can pose, and are largely uninformed about triglycerides in general.

Triglycerides are a type of fat (or lipid) found in the blood that is produced by the body and ingested from food. So-called "good," or HDL cholesterol, and "bad," or LDL cholesterol are other types of lipids. All three blood fats are measured as part of a standard lipid blood test.

According to national guidelines, a normal triglyceride level is under 150 mg/dL. Elevated triglycerides have been linked to serious illnesses including heart disease, kidney disease and pancreatitis. In fact, the risk of developing coronary artery disease doubles when triglyceride levels are above 200 mg/dL. If your triglycerides are above 200 mg/dL and your "good" (HDL) cholesterol is below 40 mg/dL, you are at four times the risk. These risks are a widespread concern, with more than 100 million Americans living with unhealthy lipid levels, according to the American Heart Association.

The Moving Beyond Cholesterol survey, which included 2,089 patients and 510 doctors, demonstrates that while nearly 9 out of 10 doctors agreed that elevated triglycerides are an independent risk for heart disease, only 13 percent of patients knew the accepted national guidelines for healthy levels. In fact, the overwhelming majority of physicians felt patients did not understand triglycerides or recognize the differences between them and cholesterol.

The survey, which was funded by an educational grant from Abbott, also found that although 67 percent of physicians reported having discussed healthy triglyceride levels with their patients, fewer than half of patients who had discussed lipids with their doctor recalled talking specifically about triglycerides.

"The findings clearly show that we, as physicians, need to do a more thorough job of being sure our patients understand the cardiovascular risk of unhealthy lipid levels, including often-ignored triglycerides," said Dr. Jerome D. Cohen, director of Preventive Cardiology Programs at St. Louis University Health Sciences Center and chairman of the National Lipid Association Consumer Affairs Committee.

Women, Diabetics At Greater Risk

Elevated triglycerides are an even more significant risk factor for women than men. An increase in triglyceride levels of 88 mg/dL increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 37 percent for women, compared to 14 percent for men. Despite the fact that elevated triglycerides pose a greater threat to women than to men, significantly fewer women reported having discussed the risks associated with high triglycerides with their doctor.

Among people with diabetes, who are already at increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and for whom high triglycerides are an especially important and common problem, only 15 percent correctly identified normal levels of triglycerides.

Education Needed

The survey, which was conducted by Harris Interactive in July and August 2006, demonstrates the need for improved patient education. Though doctors reported having discussed lipids with 3 out of 4 patients, more than 9 out of 10 doctors agreed that most of their patients need to learn more about lipid management. But only 43 percent of patients surveyed said they had discussed lipids with a healthcare provider, suggesting the need to reinforce lipid education.

Encouragingly, patients who reported discussing triglycerides with their physicians were more likely than average to be aware of normal levels, pointing to the positive educational impact physicians can have on their patients.

Courtesy of ARA Content