Cholesterol screening in general practice.

Serum cholesterol levels were measured in 250 men and 250 women aged 25-60 years attending a general practice. Seventy three per cent of the sample had levels above 5.2 mM and of these 98 patients agreed to follow a low cholesterol/low saturated fat diet for six months. The overall reduction in serum cholesterol level among these patients was 13%, suggesting that lipid screening in general practice could be worthwhile.