Lipid-Modifying Therapy: A New Paradigm

An ACC/AHA guideline abandons treatment to specific LDL cholesterol targets.

Sponsoring organization: American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA)

Target Population: Primary care providers, cardiologists

Background and Objective

To guide clinicians in treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in adults.

Key points

— Treating to LDL cholesterol targets is no longer recommended; rather, clinicians should determine whether a patient falls into one of four mutually exclusive high-risk groups and should initiate statin therapy as follows:

Patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) should receive high-intensity (age, <75) or moderate-intensity (age, ≥75) statin therapy.
Patients with LDL cholesterol levels ≥190 mg/dL should receive high-intensit…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose