Table 6. Percentage of US Adults 20 Years Taking Cholesterol-Lowering Medication, 1988-1994 vs 1999-2002* 1988-1994 1999-2002 P No. % (SE) No. % (SE) Value All adults, 20 y§ 16 019 3.4 (0.25) 9063 9.3 (0.31) .001 Men, age, y 20§ 7494 3.1 (0.31) 4269 10.7 (0.51) .001 20-39 3038 0.4 (0.19)|| 1405 1.5 (0.37) .01 40-59 2013 3.8 (0.56) 1353 11.9 (1.11) .001 60 2443 6.8 (0.83) 1511 24.3 (1.35) .001 Women, age, y 20§ 8525 3.5 (0.33) 4794 8.1 (0.38) .001 20-39 3624 0.2 (0.15)|| 1859 0.5 (0.19)|| .23 40-59 2309 3.9 (0.60) 1377 7.7 (0.92) .002 60 2592 8.7 (0.94) 1558 21.6 (1.26) .001 Mexican American§ Both sexes 4323 2.4 (0.29) 2156 6.0 (0.53) .001 Men 2159 2.2 (0.49) 1018 5.2 (0.68) .002 Women 2164 2.5 (0.47) 1138 6.7 (0.64) .001 Non-Hispanic white§ Both sexes 6547 3.4 (0.30) 4395 9.8 (0.37) .001 Men 3039 3.2 (0.35) 2110 11.3 (0.59) .001 Women 3508 3.6 (0.40) 2285 8.5 (0.47) .001 Non-Hispanic black§ Both sexes 4509 2.8 (0.28) 1727 7.0 (0.47) .001 Men 2026 2.2 (0.33) 798 8.5 (0.72) .001 Women 2483 3.2 (0.38) 929 6.0 (0.64) .001 *Based on the question "Are you now taking medication to lower your high cholesterol," which was asked during the home interview.44 Estimates are based on adults 20 years or older examined in the mobile examination center. For test of difference between the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) 1988-1994 and NHANES 1999-2002. Includes data for racial/ethnic groups not shown separately. §Age-adjusted for the entire population by the direct method to US census population projected estimates for the year 2000 using the age groups 20 to 39 years, 40 to 59 years, and 60 years or older.42 ||Does not meet the standards for reliability and precision; relative SE [(SE of the percentage/percentage) 100] is greater than 30%.