Recommendations for management of dyslipidemia in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Overwhelming evidence supports a causal relationship between elevated levels of plasma cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased risk of coronary artery disease, which remains the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering has been the main goal of therapy, and clinical trial results from recently published studies of intensive statin therapy confirm the benefits of more aggressive lipid-lowering targets, particularly in subjects at high risk for cardiovascular events. This management update will focus on the implications of risk reduction in patients at high cardiovascular risk, and will provide practical steps to help further risk stratify these patients and help them reach their target goals.