Hypertriglyceridemia and Coronary Heart Disease

C ORONARY heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, causing almost 500, 000 deaths annually (1). Each year, 1. 1 million Americans have a myocardial infarction (MI) or fatal CHD; 650, 000 are first events, and 50% of men and 63% of women who die suddenly of CHD have no prior symptoms (1). In addition to the enormous human cost, the total economic cost of CHD each year is estimated at 118 billion, including direct costs of 55 billion for hospitals and nursing homes, physicians and other health care professionals, drugs, and home health and other medical durables, as well as indirect costs for lost productivity caused by morbidity and mortality (1).