Managing the high-risk patient: therapeutic approaches in 2002.
Populations of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) include those with type 2 diabetes and those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). Despite benefits of statin lipid-lowering therapy in reducing CHD risk in diabetic patients, screening for dyslipidemia in such patients is inadequate, and patients frequently fail to achieve recommended low-density lipoprotein goals. Diagnosis of HeFH is also suboptimal, despite the reliability of family lipid screening in confirming clinical diagnosis and utility of screening in identifying other family members who are at risk. Patients with HeFH frequently require large reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol to achieve target levels. In both of these populations, statins that produce large reductions in LDL cholesterol offer advantages in achieving lipid-lowering goals and in simplifying medical therapy to reduce CHD risk.
Schuster
Herbert
H
Humboldt University Berlin, Droysenstr. 1, 10629 Berlin, Germany. schuster@infogen.de
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents