HC Deb 05 March 2004 vol 418 cc1176-7W
Mr. Paul Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the prevalence of raised blood cholesterol in(a) men and (b) women in each region; and if he will make a statement. [154583]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Figures available from the Health Survey for England 1998 are shown in the table. In this survey, cholesterol was considered to be raised at a level of 6.5 mmo1/1 or over.

Prevalence of raised cholesterol by Government Office Region and sex—Adults 16+ with a valid sample
Raised cholesterol (percentage > =6.5mmol/l) 1998
Government Office

Regions

Men

(percentage)

Women

(percentage)

Men

(bases)

Women

(bases)

North East 27.1 28.5 288 337
North West 16.9 20.7 669 720
Yorkshire and the

Humber

17.9 22.5 531 591
Prevalence of raised cholesterol by Government Office Region and

sex—Adults 16+with a valid sample

Raised cholesterol (percentage >=6.5mmol/l) 1998
Government Office

Regions

Men

(percentage)

Women

(percentage)

Men

(bases)

Women

(bases)

West Midlands 20.3 23.8 492 589
East Midlands 14.8 21.7 453 483
East England 16.2 21.8 537 577
London 16.7 17.4 527 614
South East 19.6 24.2 810 945
South West 16.5 22.4 539 572
Source:
Health Survey for England, Department of Health

The quality indicators for the new general medical services contract include cholesterol management for patients with coronary heart disease. This will reinforce general practitioners' current work to deliver the quality standards set out in the national service framework for coronary heart disease, which are Driving the present trend in increasing statin prescriptions.