title: Primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: controversies and clinical considerations.
abstract: A new guideline for the treatment of blood cholesterol was recently released by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), serving as an update to the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III cholesterol guideline first released in 2001. With significant changes to key definitions, treatment strategy, and therapy selection, the guideline has transformed the treatment of blood cholesterol and also created controversy within the health care community. This controversy is largely focused on appropriate identification and treatment of patients for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Whereas statins play an integral role in the treatment and secondary prevention of ASCVD, their use for primary prevention is less clearly defined. It is imperative that health care providers are well versed in the concepts and controversies of the new guideline recommendations for primary prevention of ASCVD and can effectively assess the risks and benefits of statin therapy in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Atlanta, GA, USA newsom_lc@mercer.edu.
authors.forename: Lydia C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Newsom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000572:American Heart Association; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: blood cholesterol; primary prevention; risk assessment; statins