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The 2007 high cholesterol survey, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., is a follow up to similar surveys conducted in 2000 and 2004.
"This survey demonstrates that despite all the information available today about high cholesterol, and the seriousness of health problems associated with elevated levels, many people don't seem to be making all the lifestyle changes necessary to address the problem. There is a significant gap between understanding the health risks associated with high cholesterol and knowing what their personal total and LDL cholesterol levels are, and the goals of treatment," said Peter H. Jones, MD, Baylor College of Medicine. "The survey also shows a need for physicians to communicate about treatment options and safety, including non-systemic or non-absorbed medications," added Dr. Jones.
Survey respondents said that important characteristics of a cholesterol- lowering medication are: that the medication is easy to tolerate (91 percent); that the medication can be used safely in combination with other drugs (89 percent); that the medication does not pass through their liver or kidneys (84 percent); and that the drug does not require blood work to monitor side effects of the liver (83 percent).
The leading class of non-systemic cholesterol-lowering medications is
the bile acid sequestrant class (BAS). The branded leader of that class,
WelChol(R), is an effective option with a well-established safety profile
for patients with high LDL cholesterol.(3) WelChol differs from many other
LDL cholesterol-lowering medications on the market because it is
non-absorbed, meaning that the body does not absorb
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| SOURCE Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Copyright©2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |