University of California Irvine Heart Disease Prevention Program researchers analyzed data from the nearly 3,000 adults older than 20 who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2003 to 2004.

The study, reported in the American Heart Journal, found 37 percent with heart and vascular system diseases had reached recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, the "bad" cholesterol. However, 17 percent were able to reach recommended levels for all lipids taken together consisting of: LDL, high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" cholesterol and triglycerides -- fats produced by the body.

The researchers strongly recommend patients try to control the overall lipid level because they found 67 percent of those without cardiovascular diseases had combined lipids at the recommended levels and 85 percent of those without cardiovascular disease had recommended levels of LDL.

"While national treatment recommendations have focused on aggressive management of LDL levels, mainly through statin therapy, we have found little change in HDL levels and an actual increase in triglyceride levels," study leader Nathan Wong says in a statement. "This is not good news, as these factors are important components of cardiovascular risk."