This report offers a patient-based approach to lowering blood cholesterol levels which seeks to identify individuals at high risk who will benefit from intensive intervention efforts. The goal is to establish criteria that define the candidates for medical intervention and to provide guidelines on how to detect, set goals for, treat, and monitor these patients over time. Information is given on: (1) classification, prevalence, detection, and evaluation of patients; (2) dietary treatment for lowering blood cholesterol; (3) monitoring and followup of diet; (4) dietary therapy for special groups; (5) approach to borderline-high blood cholesterol group; (6) when to consider drug therapy/treatment goals; (7) selection and use of drugs; (8) monitoring and followup of patients; and (9) adherance to drug therapy. Sixty references are included and appendices include tables of data on high blood cholesterol. (JD)