Lessons learned from recent lipid-lowering trials: why physicians should change clinical practice.
In the past decade there has been an explosion of data on the beneficial role of cholesterol reduction in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). While earlier clinical trials focused primarily on patient populations with very high cholesterol levels, more recent studies have also included individuals with somewhat lower, or "average," cholesterol levels. What is becoming clearer is that many patients with so-called "average" cholesterol levels may benefit from cholesterol reduction therapy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Recent studies, such as the Heart Protection Study, provide further evidence for cholesterol reduction in the prevention and treatment of CVD and offer valuable lessons about cardiovascular risk reduction.
Watson
Karol E
KE
Preventive Cardiology Program, Center for Lipid and Hypertension Management, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA. kwatson@mednet.ucla.edu
Fonarow
Gregg C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002784:Cholesterol