Action Limits in Hyperlipidemia

Abstract

One international and numerous national bodies have adopted action limits and guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of hyperlipidemia. The most publicized are those adopted by the European Atherosclerosis Society and by the National Cholesterol Education Program in the USA. Although differing in details, these guidelines share fairly low action limits based on observational epidemiology demonstrating increasing risk of cardiovascular disease in persons with serum cholesterol concentrations over 4-5 mmol/L. Various national bodies within Europe have adopted similiar guidelines. In other countries, higher and therefore more conservative action limits have been proposed. They are primarily based on results of intervention studies. Seemingly small, differences between action limits may encompass a large part of the population.