Triglycerides and Cardiovascular Disease: The Experts Speak

While debate continues about whether hypertriglyceridemia independently predicts coronary artery disease, mean triglyceride levels in the U.S. are rising, along with rates of obesity and diabetes. In a new scientific statement, the American Heart Association (AHA) outlines the scope of the problem and offers treatment recommendations. Triglyceride levels directly influence high- and low-density lipoprotein metabolism, and hypertriglyceridemia can be mediated genetically or acquired (e.g., in patients with hypothyroidism, diabetes, or renal disease).

The authors propose a “practical algorithm” for initial screening with nonfasting triglyceride measurement. If levels are <200 mg/dL (corresponding to <150 mg/dL on a fasting sample), they sugges…