Practical application of Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines: three illustrative case histories.
The Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guidelines continue to emphasize intensive treatment for persons at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The newest feature is a focus on primary prevention in persons with multiple risk factors; the updated guidelines recognize diabetes as a CHD risk equivalent. These groups of people already are at high risk and can benefit from increased intensive treatment to lower serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The ATP III guidelines establish lower targets for LDL-C and triglyceride levels and higher targets for the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. The guidelines also combine several risk factors to estimate the probability of CHD with use of the Framingham risk point-scoring formula and emphasize the multifactorial benefits of drug therapy as an adjunct to lifestyle changes.
Carr
Larry L
LL
College of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL