title: Evaluation and treatment of lipid disorders in women.
abstract: The latest report from the National Cholesterol Education Program has reaffirmed that the primary lipid goal for the prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease (AVD) is to achieve a normal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (<130 mg/dL) by diet in normal individuals, and by diet and statin therapy in patients with multiple risk factors. Patients with any clinical AVD (which includes diabetes) will need a statin to achieve an optimal LDL cholesterol (<100 mg/dL). The recent Heart Protection Study might revise our thinking further. Patients at high risk achieved a reduction in mortality and vascular events taking simvastatin 40 mg, even if they had a low baseline LDL value. Individuals with the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance do not typically have a very high LDL, but rather have elevated triglycerides and a low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. They, too, need to be treated with a statin, first to achieve an appropriate LDL goal. This is insufficient if the triglyceride value exceeds 200 mg/dL. They should be treated to achieve a non-HDL cholesterol goal (equal to total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol) that is 30 mg/dL higher than the LDL goal.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, HO47, The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, PA 17033-0850, USA. rzelis@psu.edu
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zelis
mesh_terms: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides