Aggressive treatment of atherosclerosis: the time is now.
In patients with known cardiovascular disease and those at high risk for it, physicians must begin to treat atherosclerosis earlier, with combination therapy of statins, aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and beta-blockers. In those hospitalized with a cardiovascular event, a statin should be started in the hospital, regardless of lipid levels. Patients with diabetes should be treated as if they have preexisting cardiovascular disease.
Fonarow
Gregg C
GC
Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center, Cardiology Fellowship Training Program, UCLA Preventative Cardiology Program, Division of Cardiology, UCLA Division of Cardiology 90095, USA. gfonarow@mednet.ucla.edu
D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin; D001241:Aspirin