Advances in the management of hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis

Abstract

Although hyperlipidemia clearly plays a role in developing cardiovascular disease, the 10% of the population with the highest LDL levels account for only 20% of cardiovascular disease events. Thus, in order to significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, subjects with only modest dyslipidemia need to be treated with lipid-lowering therapy. Current guidelines have recommended aggressive lipid-lowering therapy in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The rationale behind this and treatment options to achieve target lipid goals are discussed.

Keywords::

• atherosclerosis
• cardiovascular
• cholesterol
• fibrate
• low-density lipoprotein
• nicotinic acid
• statin

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Lisa Tannock is on the speakers bureau for AstraZeneca and has received honoraria from Merck. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.