Korean Society of Lipid & Atherosclerosis (KSoLA) has come out to emphasize the need for people in the 30s and 40s to control cholesterol.

The society stressed the importance of controlling cholesterol as the most dangerous element in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and its treatment through drugs, in a press meeting on the sidelines of International Conference on Lipid & Atherosclerosis in the Conrad Seoul Friday.

According to data from national nutrition survey, one in six Korean adults 30 years or older suffer from hypercholesterinemia.

"The change in lifestyle has a limit to control cholesterol. In Korea, the cholesterol control by people in their 30s and 40s is deficient,” said Kim Hyo-soo_김효수, director of the society. “It is necessary to attract the attention of younger generations.”

"The terminal station of hyperlipidemia is atherosclerosis, which can lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,” Kim said. “It is important to get drug treatments from the early stage."

Drug treatments can control cholesterol in more than 80 percent of cases, he added.

Another expert agreed. "When people take cholesterol depressor, they will see the controlling effect of more than 80 percent, but only one in three takes drug treatments. Especially the younger generations’ participation in drug treatment is low," said Professor Kim Jae-hyun김재현 of Samsung Medical Center_{삼성서울병원}.

Accordingly, the society will take measures to increase drug treatment rate together with medical professionals and news media.

"We will try to enhance the organization’s global status through the successful hosting of the ICoLA 2017, and take the lead in conducting a national campaign to update treatment guidelines and strengthen educations to prevent risks caused by cholesterol," Kim said.

The academic conference will feature lectures and discussions about adult diseases such as metabolic syndrome and arteriosclerosis, including hyperlipidemia.