How to manage blood cholesterol in primary and secondary prevention

16 May 2019

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Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is causal of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pharmacologic LDL-C lowering halts the progression of atherosclerosis and improves clinical outcomes in primary as well as secondary prevention.

This article summarizes current recommendations on how to manage LDL-C levels in individuals with or without known cardiovascular disease, including recommendations on which patients should be considered for pharmacologic treatment, how low LDL-C should be lowered, and which drugs or drug combinations should be used to attain treatment goals.

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