- Quest Diagnostics launches Health Trends(R), a national source of patient
health information that provides insights from the nation's largest private
database of clinical test results -
- Cholesterol levels decreased less in women than men -
LYNDHURST, N.J., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
(NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information
and services, announced today that it identified a significant and steady
decline of approximately 10 percent over a four-year period in average LDL
(low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in blood tests ordered on behalf
of patients under a physician's care in the United States. However, the
decline was slower in women than in men.
The average serum LDL cholesterol level declined from 123.7 milligrams per
deciliter (mg/dL) at the beginning of 2001 to 111.7 mg/dL at the end of 2004.
The recommended upper limit of LDL cholesterol for people at average risk for
heart disease is 130 mg/dL, according to the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP). Lowering LDL cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol,
decreases the risk of arteriosclerosis and heart attack.
The findings are contained in an LDL Cholesterol Heart Health Report
released as the first in a series of Quest Diagnostics Health Trends, a new
indicator of patient health based on de-identified patient testing data in the
nation's largest private database of clinical test results. For the Heart
Health Report, Quest Diagnostics conducted a retrospective analysis of data
from nearly 80 million LDL cholesterol results reported by its laboratories
across the U.S. from 2001 through 2004 for adult patients age 20 years and
older.
The Heart Health Report is the first assessment of its kind to involve so
many people, and it provides up-to-date information on national LDL
cholesterol trends for people who visit the doctor. Other population-based
cardiovascular disease studies rigorously evaluate general populations ranging
from 3,000 to 60,000 well-characterized study participants and are often
regional or localized in scope. Certain characteristics of the Quest
Diagnostics data, such as seasonal variation and gender differences, have been
well described in prior studies.
"The 10% decline we saw in average LDL cholesterol levels between 2001 and
2004 is a steeper decrease than has been reported in a published U.S.
population study, and these data are very current," said Joyce G. Schwartz,
M.D., Vice President and Chief Laboratory Officer for Quest Diagnostics. "In
addition, women showed higher average LDL cholesterol levels than men, and
their results declined less than the men's."
"The Quest Diagnostics study shows that cholesterol is decreasing in
Americans who see their doctors and have their cholesterol measured, and this
is very important for public health," said Frank M. Sacks, M.D., Professor of
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Harvard School of Public Health. "I
would expect that these patients have an improved quality of life because
lower cholesterol means fewer heart attacks and other cardiovascular events."
The decline in average LDL cholesterol levels was observed across all age
groups, but was most pronounced for tests performed on older patients. The
decrease was greatest (approximately 13%) for people aged 70 years and older
and least pronounced (approximately 7%) for the 20-to-39-year age range.
Gender Differences
The data also revealed gender differences in LDL cholesterol levels, which
declined further in men than in women over the four-year period. The largest
differences between men and women were observed in the older age groups.
Overall, from January 2001 to December 2004, average LDL cholesterol in men
fell from 124.0 mg/dL to 110.9 mg/dL. In women, average LDL cholesterol
declined from 123.4 mg/dL to 112.5 mg/dL during the same time period. The rate
of decline was larger in men than women, and is statistically significant.
"These data highlight a potentially important gender gap in cardiovascular
disease risk among patients with access to medical care. The finding
underscores the need to develop system approaches to improve the application
of evidence-based guidelines and quality of care for both men and women," said
Lori Mosca, M.D., M.P.H, Ph.D., Director, Preventive Cardiology, New York-
Presbyterian Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia
University.
"At a time when the world is looking to evidence-based medicine to drive
better outcomes, we are proud to be able to utilize our unique clinical
database to provide quantitative insights on the health of patients," said
Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Quest
Diagnostics. "Our first Health Trends report provides a glimpse into how
'real-world medicine' is advancing the nation's heart health and well-being.
This is an exciting undertaking and we are pleased to share our findings."
"The Quest Diagnostics' data are remarkably consistent with more
conventional studies, such as the government's National Health and Nutrition
Examination Survey (NHANES)," said Josef Coresh, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of
Epidemiology, Biostatistics & Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. "The
broad representation and large sample size of the Quest Diagnostics population
make this report unique and gives Quest Diagnostics the ability to provide
fresh data without the longer lag time necessarily associated with research
studies, such as NHANES."
Quest Diagnostics is not providing interpretation of the data, which has
to be considered in the context of the extensive published research in the
field. Data used in the report only include test results with the patient's
age, gender, and geographic region.
"The compilation of this large amount of lipid testing data represents an
ambitious effort to assemble information that is potentially related to the
health of Americans over the past few years of laboratory testing by Quest
Diagnostics," said Peter W. F. Wilson, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Medical
University of South Carolina and the former Director of Laboratories for the
Framingham Heart Study. "However, there are limitations of the data that
affect interpretation." The limitations include the fact that individuals or
their physicians were not identified by name; some tests have been repeated
for the same person; and the data does not include defining characteristics
such as a person's ethnicity, medications, or medical history.
LDL cholesterol data was derived from results of 78.3 million tests
ordered by physicians on their adult, predominantly non-hospitalized patients
from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2004. LDL cholesterol results were
calculated from serum measurements of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and
triglycerides using standardized laboratory procedures. The company plans to
utilize its extensive database of de-identified laboratory test results to
identify health trends for other medical conditions.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of diagnostic testing,
information and services that patients and doctors need to make better
healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic
testing services through its national network of laboratories and patient
service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive
medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing
innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced information technology solutions
that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available
at: http://www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and
outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in
government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers,
suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2004 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT:
Gary Samuels - Media, +1-201-393-5700, or
Laure Park -
Investors, +1-201-393-5030,
both of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated