title: Treating to low-density lipoprotein goal: a tool for initiating and optimizing lipid-lowering therapy in patients with atherosclerosis or similar risk.
abstract: Compelling, consistent clinical trial evidence indicates that lipid-lowering therapy reduces the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and improves survival in patients with coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and diabetes. Despite this evidence and the national clinical guidelines recommending lipid-lowering treatment and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) goal attainment in patients with clinically evident atherosclerotic vascular disease or similar risk, study after study has documented low treatment rates. Furthermore, a large proportion of high-risk patients have not achieved LDL goals, thereby creating a clinical practice and public health dilemma. This article features a tool to guide the initiation and optimization of LDL-lowering therapy and a program to improve long-term treatment rates, LDL goal attainment, and clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: UCLA Preventative Cardiology Program, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA. gfonarow@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Gregg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
authors.forename: Karol E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Watson