title: Lipid disorders: justification of methods and goals of treatment.
abstract: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). While some uncertainty exists about the clinical significance of improving high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels, large primary- and secondary-prevention studies aimed at lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with statins have convincingly reduced CHD events and total mortality. Despite the strong clinical evidence and widely publicized treatment guidelines, many hyperlipidemic patients receive inadequate lipid-lowering treatment. This failure to achieve clinical treatment goals may be due to poor physician adherence to treatment guidelines, patient noncompliance, and the presence of concomitant medical conditions that modify typical hyperlipidemia management. This review considers the challenges and available strategies to optimize lipid management in patients at risk for CHD.
authors.affiliation: Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nass
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014280:Triglycerides