The New Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines from the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association, 2013: What Clinicians Need to Know

Abstract

The new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood cholesterol guidelines of 2013 are the first major revision of cholesterol therapy guidance in over a decade. Commonly used low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target goals have been abrogated in favor of intensity of statin therapy, more in line with data from randomized clinical trials. Four groups of adult patients have been identified from these studies who will most benefit from statins: patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); patients with primary elevations of LDL-C ≥ 190 mg/dL; diabetic patients between age 40 and 75 years without ASCVD whose LDL-C is between 70 and 189 mg/dL; and patients between age 40 and 75 years without ASCVD or diabetes with LDL-C between 70 and 189 mg/dL and an estimated 10-year ASCVD risk of 7.5% or higher. This last primary prevention group has engendered the most controversy because the newly recommended risk calculator may overestimate risk or the 7.5% threshold may be too low, thereby subjecting too many patients to statins unnecessarily. This review summarizes the latest guidelines and pertinent evidence, and provides case examples to help clinicians familiarize themselves with the new recommendations.

Keywords:

• statin
• cholesterol
• lipid
• cardiovascular disease