Aggressive treatment of atherosclerosis: the time is now.

In patients with known cardiovascular disease and those at high risk for it, physicians must begin to treat atherosclerosis earlier, with combination therapy of statins, aspirin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and beta-blockers. In those hospitalized with a cardiovascular event, a statin should be started in the hospital, regardless of lipid levels. Patients with diabetes should be treated as if they have preexisting cardiovascular disease.