title: Beyond guidelines: achieving the optimum in LDL cholesterol control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite clear treatment guidelines, a major part of the population is not achieving the recommended LDL cholesterol target levels. This fact is more prominent among high-risk populations in which the majority of patients are untreated or undertreated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The review will elaborate on the key issues of treating large populations: patient compliance, drug efficacy, cost-benefit, and physician quality of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A programme aimed at improving control of hyperlipidemia should address all four issues. The primary care physician should be empowered and given tools for optimizing treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel. leibovitz@wolfson.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leibovitz
authors.forename: Rafi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bitzur
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harats
authors.forename: Dov
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gavish
mesh_terms: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL