Lipids in women: screening and treatment.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in both men and women, although the association between total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and CHD risk differs in men and women. Although several clinical trials of lipid lowering for both primary and secondary prevention of CHD have been conducted, women have not always been included, have been included in small numbers, or have not had their results analyzed separately. CHD risk assessment is an important component of decision making about screening and treatment of hyperlipidemia. This article presents guidelines for screening and treatment of hyperlipidemia in women with CHD, in healthy women, and in women at risk for CHD.