{"id":3675360,"date":"2025-10-30T08:25:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T12:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/?post_type=story&p=3675360"},"modified":"2025-10-31T14:56:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T18:56:51","slug":"understanding-the-health-risks-of-high-ldl-cholesterol","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/stories\/understanding-the-health-risks-of-high-ldl-cholesterol\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the health risks of high LDL cholesterol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n \n Health awareness<\/small>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

\n Understanding the health risks of high LDL cholesterol\n <\/h1>\n

Our scientists are investigating a potential new approach to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in order to help lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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October 30, 2025<\/p>\n

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What does high cholesterol mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cholesterol is obtained from food and produced by the liver. It carries out several important functions in our body, including the synthesis of new cells, some hormones and substances that help digest food. There are two kinds of cholesterol: high-density lipids (HDL) and low-density lipids (LDL). Too much LDL cholesterol can pose a problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LDL-C, also known as \u201cbad cholesterol,\u201d is known to combine with fats and other substances leading to the buildup over time of fatty deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, on and within the inner walls of arteries. This may increase an individual\u2019s risk of heart attack or stroke. People with elevated LDL-C levels in their blood have a condition called hypercholesterolemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain health conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as behavior and lifestyle factors like smoking, eating a diet high in saturated and trans fats and lack of exercise, have been shown to increase a person’s risk for hypercholesterolemia. Other factors that increase risk include a family history of cardiovascular disease, older age and gender (women tend to have lower LDL levels than men until ~55 years of age or until menopause).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ONE PATIENT’S JOURNEY: A call to action: Lowering LDL cholesterol<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hypercholesterolemia: a major causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hypercholesterolemia is a leading contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a condition caused by the buildup of plaque within arteries, leading to narrowed or blocked blood vessels. This may result in cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke and continues to pose a significant health burden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CV epidemic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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~24.1%<\/div>\n\n
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Adults live with hypercholesterolemia; ~86M adults in the U.S. are affected<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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~500M<\/div>\n\n
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People worldwide are affected by cardiovascular disease\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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~20.5M <\/div>\n\n
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Deaths from cardiovascular disease in 2021; ~900K deaths in the U.S. in 2023<\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Despite widespread availability of therapeutic interventions, 70% of the patients treated with lipid-lowering therapies are not achieving guideline recommended reductions in LDL cholesterol and, as a result, remain at risk for serious cardiovascular events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMillions of people are impacted by hypercholesterolemia and struggle to meet their recommended LDL cholesterol level,\u201d said Dr. Puja Banka, associate vice president, clinical research and global clinical development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Cardiovascular disease is a serious global public health threat, and we\u2019re investigating an established biological mechanism coupled with the potential of an innovative modality to help support patients who continue to have high LDL cholesterol levels.”<\/h4>\n\n\n\n