Reduce cholesterol in adults — HDS‑06 Data

National Status: Improving

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Most Recent Data:
188.2 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (2021-23) *

National Target:
186.4 mg/dL *

Desired Direction:
Decrease desired

National Baseline:
190.9 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) was the mean total blood cholesterol level for adults aged 20 years and over in 2013-16 *

* Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

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Data Table

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Demographic Group

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Confidence Interval (CI) not available Standard Error (SE) not available Confidence Interval (CI) and Standard Error (SE) are not available

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Mean total blood cholesterol levels, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Total	190.9 CI 189.2 / 192.5 SE 0.788	187.2 CI 184.7 / 189.6 SE 1.176	188.2 CI 185.9 / 190.6 SE 1.115

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Sex, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Male	188.3 CI 186.4 / 190.2 SE 0.923	184.2 CI 181.2 / 187.2 SE 1.465	186.2 CI 183.3 / 189.0 SE 1.339
Female	192.9 CI 191.2 / 194.5 SE 0.796	189.6 CI 187.1 / 192.1 SE 1.224	189.9 CI 187.4 / 192.3 SE 1.152

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Race/Ethnicity, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
American Indian or Alaska Native only	DSU	DSU	DSU
Asian only	DSU	DSU	DSU
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only	DSU	DSU	DSU
Black or African American only	DNA	DNA	DNA
White only	DNA	DNA	DNA
2 or more races	DSU	DSU	DSU
Hispanic or Latino	192.0 CI 190.1 / 194.0 SE 0.958	186.5 CI 183.0 / 189.9 SE 1.679	DSU³
Mexican American	191.3 CI 188.7 / 193.8 SE 1.245	186.7 CI 181.8 / 191.5 SE 2.319	DSU³
Not Hispanic or Latino	DNA	DNA	DNA
American Indian or Alaska Native only, not Hispanic or Latino	DSU	DSU	DSU
Asian only, not Hispanic or Latino	190.7 CI 188.0 / 193.4 SE 1.316	191.2 CI 187.0 / 195.4 SE 2.023	DSU³
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, not Hispanic or Latino	DSU	DSU	DSU
Black or African American only, not Hispanic or Latino	184.2 CI 181.7 / 186.7 SE 1.221	181.2 CI 177.9 / 184.4 SE 1.593	DSU³
White only, not Hispanic or Latino	191.8 CI 189.9 / 193.6 SE 0.896	187.8 CI 184.2 / 191.4 SE 1.742	DSU³
2 or more races, not Hispanic or Latino	DSU	DSU	DSU

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Age group, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^† ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
20-44 years	184.0 CI 182.2 / 185.9 SE 0.911	181.2 CI 178.6 / 183.9 SE 1.306	184.1 CI 181.3 / 186.9 SE 1.312
20-24 years	170.4 CI 167.4 / 173.4 SE 1.465	168.0 CI 164.6 / 171.4 SE 1.655	169.9 CI 163.1 / 176.7 SE 3.199
25-44 years	187.4 CI 185.4 / 189.4 SE 0.990	184.7 CI 181.6 / 187.7 SE 1.490	187.2 CI 184.1 / 190.3 SE 1.464
45-64 years	201.6 CI 198.7 / 204.4 SE 1.392	196.7 CI 193.6 / 199.9 SE 1.546	198.6 CI 195.2 / 201.9 SE 1.566
45-54 years	203.9 CI 200.3 / 207.5 SE 1.771	196.6 CI 192.4 / 200.9 SE 2.054	200.4 CI 195.8 / 205.0 SE 2.146
55-64 years	199.0 CI 194.9 / 203.1 SE 2.011	196.8 CI 193.0 / 200.7 SE 1.881	197.1 CI 192.7 / 201.5 SE 2.075
65 years and over	187.9 CI 185.4 / 190.3 SE 1.218	183.8 CI 180.2 / 187.4 SE 1.749	181.7 CI 179.0 / 184.4 SE 1.283
65-74 years	190.1 CI 186.4 / 193.7 SE 1.767	186.0 CI 181.6 / 190.4 SE 2.141	185.3 CI 182.0 / 188.6 SE 1.553
75-79 years	187.7 CI 184.0 / 191.4 SE 1.791	184.3 CI 177.0 / 191.6 SE 3.551	178.5 CI 173.1 / 183.9 SE 2.520
80 years and over	182.2 CI 179.0 / 185.3 SE 1.530	177.3 CI 171.2 / 183.4 SE 2.973	173.9 CI 168.9 / 178.9 SE 2.345

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Educational attainment (25 years and over), 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Less than High school	191.4 CI 189.1 / 193.7 SE 1.122	188.3 CI 185.4 / 191.2 SE 1.417	185.1 CI 180.0 / 190.3 SE 2.421
High school (including GED or equivalent)	192.7 CI 190.1 / 195.3 SE 1.275	186.1 CI 181.9 / 190.4 SE 2.062	188.6 CI 186.5 / 190.6 SE 0.979
Some college or Associate degree	194.5 CI 191.6 / 197.3 SE 1.380	189.2 CI 186.1 / 192.4 SE 1.527	188.3 CI 185.1 / 191.5 SE 1.500
4-year college degree or more	192.5 CI 189.5 / 195.4 SE 1.433	191.6 CI 188.5 / 194.7 SE 1.516	193.7 CI 190.7 / 196.8 SE 1.446

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Family income (percent poverty guidelines), 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
<100	187.5 CI 184.9 / 190.2 SE 1.301	183.7 CI 180.4 / 187.0 SE 1.625	DSU⁴
100-199	191.6 CI 189.8 / 193.4 SE 0.869	186.3 CI 183.3 / 189.3 SE 1.465	DSU⁴
200-399	190.5 CI 188.3 / 192.7 SE 1.079	187.0 CI 183.1 / 190.9 SE 1.896	DSU⁴
400+	192.8 CI 190.3 / 195.2 SE 1.195	189.1 CI 185.5 / 192.7 SE 1.753	DSU⁴

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Health insurance status (20-64 years), 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Insured	190.9 CI 188.9 / 192.8 SE 0.952	188.5 CI 185.6 / 191.3 SE 1.379	190.3 CI 187.7 / 192.8 SE 1.191
Private	191.1 CI 189.1 / 193.1 SE 0.990	189.0 CI 185.9 / 192.1 SE 1.524	191.5 CI 188.1 / 194.8 SE 1.581
Public	189.9 CI 186.5 / 193.3 SE 1.645	186.6 CI 183.1 / 190.1 SE 1.690	187.2 CI 183.8 / 190.7 SE 1.617
Uninsured	194.6 CI 191.9 / 197.3 SE 1.322	186.2 CI 183.3 / 189.2 SE 1.419	188.4 CI 183.1 / 193.7 SE 2.488

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Geographic location, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Geographic location	DNC	DNC	DNC

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Marital status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Married/Cohabiting partner	190.9 CI 189.2 / 192.5 SE 0.794	188.4 CI 185.9 / 190.8 SE 1.182	189.3 CI 186.0 / 192.6 SE 1.532
Divorced, separated, widowed	191.1 CI 187.6 / 194.7 SE 1.745	189.2 CI 184.8 / 193.6 SE 2.149	187.9 CI 182.0 / 193.9 SE 2.782
Never married	188.9 CI 185.6 / 192.3 SE 1.650	182.6 CI 178.7 / 186.6 SE 1.903	182.5 CI 178.0 / 187.1 SE 2.147

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Country of birth, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
US	190.4 CI 188.5 / 192.3 SE 0.930	186.3 CI 183.5 / 189.1 SE 1.358	187.6 CI 185.4 / 189.7 SE 0.996
Outside US	193.3 CI 191.3 / 195.2 SE 0.946	190.6 CI 187.2 / 193.9 SE 1.622	190.6 CI 185.1 / 196.0 SE 2.552

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Veteran status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Veteran	190.3 CI 187.1 / 193.6 SE 1.596	DNA	183.6 CI 178.4 / 188.9 SE 2.461
Non-veteran	191.8 CI 190.0 / 193.5 SE 0.847	DNA	188.9 CI 186.4 / 191.4 SE 1.168

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Activity limitation, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
With activity limitations	190.2 CI 186.8 / 193.6 SE 1.641	DNC	DNC
Without activity limitations	191.3 CI 189.6 / 193.0 SE 0.829	DNC	DNC

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Sexual orientation, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Sexual orientation	DSU	DSU	DSU

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Gender identity, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
Gender identity	DNC	DNC	DNC

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Obesity status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 ^* ^◊
(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))
Decrease desired

Population	2013-16	2017-20¹	2021-23²
With obesity	191.8 CI 189.7 / 193.9 SE 1.026	187.8 CI 184.9 / 190.7 SE 1.428	188.5 CI 185.1 / 191.8 SE 1.553
Without obesity	190.1 CI 188.1 / 192.1 SE 0.975	186.6 CI 184.2 / 189.1 SE 1.210	188.3 CI 185.4 / 191.2 SE 1.351

Disparity

Reference rate:

Data Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS

1 Estimates are calculated from 2017-March 2020 prepandemic data files.

2 Estimates are calculated from August 2021-August 2023 data files.

3 In August 2021-August 2023, data by race/ethnicity are suppressed due to lower sample size (no oversampling). See Data Methodology and Measurement for more details.

4 In August 2021-August 2023, data by income are suppressed due to missing data and lower sample size (no oversampling). See Data Methodology and Measurement for more details.

#: Standard errors and confidence intervals are not available for this population group.

*: Age adjusted to the year 2000 standard population.

◊: Unless otherwise noted, data represent "mg/dL, 20+ years"

†: Target is not applicable for this demographic group.

DSU: Data do not meet the criteria for statistical reliability, data quality, or confidentiality.

DNA: Data have not been analyzed.

DNC: Data for specific population not collected.

--- : Data are not available.

Learn more about data measurement for this objective

Reduce cholesterol in adults — HDS‑06 Data

National Status: Improving

Download HDS-06 data

Mean total blood cholesterol levels, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Sex, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Race/Ethnicity, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Age group, 2013-16 to 2021-23 † ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Educational attainment (25 years and over), 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Family income (percent poverty guidelines), 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Health insurance status (20-64 years), 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Geographic location, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Marital status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Country of birth, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Veteran status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Activity limitation, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Sexual orientation, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Gender identity, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired

Mean total blood cholesterol levels by Obesity status, 2013-16 to 2021-23 * ◊(milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL))Decrease desired