Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk: the importance of early prevention.
Strategies aimed at primary prevention provide an outstanding opportunity for reducing the onset and burden of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Lipid abnormalities, including high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), are associated with an increased risk of CV events, thereby serving as contributors to this process. By consensus, lowering LDL-C, generally with statin therapy, is the primary target of lipid-lowering therapy. However, statin therapy may be insufficient for patients with mixed dyslipidemia, especially those with insulin resistance syndromes. While the addition of niacin, fibrate or omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in this setting, outcomes data are lacking. Therefore, data from ongoing prospective studies will hopefully resolve this issue and facilitate identification of optimal strategies to augment CV risk reduction.
Miller
M
M
Center for Preventive Cardiology, Division of Cardiology, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. Mmiller@medicine.umaryland.edu
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
D004338:Drug Combinations; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009525:Niacin; D002995:Clofibric Acid