National guidelines support comprehensive lipid management
Patients may present with different combinations of lipid abnormalities
NCEP recommends initiating lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, which continue
during drug treatment1
NCEP recommends an optional LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL for very high-risk patients
such as patients with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) plus multiple risk
factors (especially diabetes)2
According to the AHA, HDL-C <40 mg/dL is low for men; HDL-C <50 mg/dL is low for
women3
HDL-C ≥60 mg/dL counts as a "negative" risk factor; its presence removes 1 risk factor
from that total count of risk factors2
NCEP does not specify a goal for HDL-C raising or triglyceride lowering
a CHD risk equivalent:
patients with multiple risk factors and 10-year risk for CHD >20%, those diagnosed
with diabetes or a form of clinical atherosclerotic disease including peripheral
arterial disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or carotid artery disease.
b Major risk factors
(exclusive of LDL cholesterol) that modify LDL goals include: cigarette smoking,
hypertension (BP ≥140/90 mmHg or on antihypertensive medication), low HDL-C (<40
mg/dL), family history of premature coronary heart disease (CHD male first-degree
relative <55 years of age and in female
first-degree
relative <65 years of age), and age (men ≥45 years; women ≥55 years).