The National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA) is investing another NT$113 million (US$3.58 million) to improve follow-up for isolated hyperlipidemia cases, often known as high cholesterol, in addition to the September relaxation of cholesterol treatment drug costs, agency Director-General Chen Lian-yu (陳亮妤) said yesterday.
Che said the agency is working with the nine largest medical associations nationwide and in September, reduced the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) eligibility threshold for cholesterol-reducing drugs from 135 milligrams per deciliter down to 100 milligrams per deciliter.
Starting on Jan. 1, the agency is implementing the NHI Hyperlipidemia Treatment Payout Amelioration Plan, which would categorize patients by condition or isolated incidents, providing high cholesterol patients with better care and comprehensive coverage over the long term, she said.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
According to nutrition and health census data from 2019 to 2023 collated by the Health Promotion Administration, high cholesterol in Taiwanese over the age of 20 had a 30 percent prevalence.
Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases ranked second and fourth respectively in the top 10 causes of death in Taiwan last year, killing 35,000 people annually and posing a health risk as severe as cancer, the data showed.
Taiwan Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Diseases president Wang Tzung-dau (王宗道) said that high cholesterol is not easily detected, and that people with multiple metabolic disorders, familial hypercholesterolemia, a history of cardiovascular disease and those who appear healthy, but have high cholesterol should get regular testing.
Taiwan Society of Cardiology president Lee Yi-heng (李貽恒) said atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is usually caused by high concentrations of LDL-C in the bloodstream, and such conditions often accelerate arterial wall hardening, increasing risk of death.
Taiwan Society of Cardiovascular Interventions president Kao Hsien-li (高憲立) said research showed that for every one millimole per liter of LDL-C, it cuts backs evere cardiovascular incidents by 22 percent, and reduces the death risk from coronary heart disease-caused deaths by 20 percent.
Despite 70 percent of ASCVD patients continuing to take prescribed drugs, only about 35 percent achieve such goals, Kao said.
Recent research has shown that Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 inhibitors could further reduce LDL-C concentration by 50 to 60 percent, Kao said, adding that the NHIA had relaxed regulations in September, extending discount periods from six months to 12.
Such a policy could help patients reduce their medical costs by NT$120,000 per year, Kao said.
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