Global Burden of Elevated LDL-C

What is the global disease burden attributable to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)? In 2023, high LDL-C caused 3.6 million deaths (6.0% of all deaths) and 90.7 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (3.2% of total DALYs). Despite declines of 45.6% in age-standardized mortality rates and 39.5% in DALY rates, the absolute LDL-C–related burden increased by 38.5% from 1990 to 2023, driven by population growth and aging, with notable regional disparities shifting toward middle-sociodemographic settings. Strategic approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat elevated LDL-C across populations globally are needed.

Corresponding Author: Christian Razo, PhD, Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98195 (razoc@uw.edu).

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