Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia: Part 1
Key Points
Key Points
- An elevated level of cholesterol carried by circulating apolipoprotein (apo) B–containing lipoproteins (non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [Non-HDL-C] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], termed atherogenic cholesterol) is a root cause of atherosclerosis, the key process contributing to most clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.
- Reducing elevated levels of atherogenic cholesterol will lower ASCVD risk in proportion to the extent that atherogenic cholesterol is reduced. This benefit is presumed to result from atherogenic cholesterol lowering through multiple modalities, including lifestyle modification and drug therapies.
- The intensity of risk-reduction therapy should generally be adjusted to the patient’s absolute risk for an ASCVD event.
- Atherosclerosis is a process that often begins early in life and progresses for decades before resulting in a clinical ASCVD event. Therefore, both intermediate-term and long-term/lifetime risk should be considered when assessing the potential benefits and hazards of risk-reduction therapies.
- For patients in whom lipid-lowering drug therapy is indicated, statin treatment is the primary modality for reducing ASCVD risk.
- Non-lipid ASCVD risk factors should also be managed appropriately, particularly high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus.
- In all adults (≥20 years of age), a fasting or nonfasting lipoprotein profile should be obtained at least every 5 years.
- (total-C minus HDL-C). If fasting (generally 9-12 hours), the LDL-C level may be calculated, provided that the triglyceride concentration is <400 mg/dL. (See Table 7)
- For those with atherogenic cholesterol levels in the desirable range, public health recommendations regarding lifestyle should be emphasized.
Table 1. Criteria for Classification of ASCVD
- Myocardial infarction or other acute coronary syndrome
- Coronary or other revascularization procedure
- Transient ischemic attack
- Ischemic stroke
- Atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease
- Includes ankle/brachial index <0.90
- Other documented atherosclerotic diseases such as:
- Coronary atherosclerosis
- Renal atherosclerosis
- Carotid plaque, ≥50% stenosis
- Aortic aneurysm secondary to atherosclerosis
Risk Assessment
...sk Assessment...
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...able 2. Major Risk Factors for ASCVDa...
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...le 4. Criteria for ASCVD Risk Assess...
...h or Very High Risk Patient GroupsHaving trou...
...tial Steps in ASCVD Risk Assessmen...
Diagnosis
...iagnosis
...lassifications of Cholesterol and Triglyceride L...
...s That May Elevate LDL-C or Triglyceride Con...
...ndicators (Other Than Major ASCVD Risk...
...10. Diet Characteristics and Diseases/Disorders...
...Criteria for Clinical Identification of...
Treatment
...atment
...ients at low or moderate risk, lifes...
...l of Steps in Lifestyle Therapies
...ression of Atherogenic-Cholesterol-Lo...
...ment Goals for Non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and A...
.... Intensity of Statin TherapyaHaving...
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...15A. Single-Agents — Effects on Lipid Metabolism...
...B. Combination Drugs — Effects on...
...e 16. Agents for Homozygous Familial Hypercholest...