Author
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SCHAEFER, ERNST - HNRCA |
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BROUSSEAU, MARGARET - HNRCA |
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Submitted to: Preventive Cardiology
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2000 Publication Date: 6/1/2000 Citation: SCHAEFER, E.J., BROUSSEAU, M.E. BENEFITS OF REDUCING LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATIONS TO <100 MG/DL. PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY. 2000. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: An elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is an independent risk factor for premature coronary heart disease (CHD), with a value of $160 mg/dL designated as high-risk by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panels I and II. Goals of therapy for all patients with elevated LDL-C include reducing levels: 1) to <160 mg/dL in those with fewer than two CHD risk factors, 2) to <130 mg/dL in those with two or more CHD risk factors, and 3) to <100 mg/dL in patients with established CHD. However, debate remains as to how aggressively patients should be treated, especially those with CHD. This report reviews recent primary and secondary intervention trials in which 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been used to reduce LDL-C concentrations, with particular emphasis on trials including subjects having CHD and average baseline LDL-C concentrations. |
