By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    HIPPA compliance
    How Medical Office Staff Can Make Your Practice HIPAA Compliant
    October 29, 2021
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    February 10, 2022
    Which Mushroom Capsules Are Good for Your Health?
    May 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Managing Your Health After a Worksite Accident
    December 10, 2023
    Biohazard Cleanup: The Importance of Proper Disposal and Containment
    December 2, 2023
    Medicare Helps Seniors, and People with Disabilities & ESRD
    November 27, 2023
    The Link Between Allergies and Sinusitis & Strategies for Relief
    November 27, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    chronic pain
    Invisible Illness Insights: “A Little Understanding Could Change So Many Lives”
    November 18, 2014
    Advance Practice Nurse Led Clinics – Coming to Your Medical Neighborhood Soon?
    November 18, 2012
    Cancer Drugs: Why the High and Rising Prices?
    April 10, 2015
    Latest News
    The Role Of Second Opinions In Medical Errors
    December 10, 2023
    Urgent Care in Downers Grove: Meeting Community Health Care Needs
    December 10, 2023
    Automation in Pharmacovigilance: A Double-Edged Sword
    November 15, 2023
    What Does Science Say About Modern Health Practices?
    November 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: New Blood Cholesterol Guidelines
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > Cardiology > New Blood Cholesterol Guidelines
CardiologyNewsPolicy & LawPublic HealthWellness

New Blood Cholesterol Guidelines

psalber
Last updated: 2013/11/14 at 9:00 AM
psalber
Share
5 Min Read
blood cholesterol
SHARE

blood cholesterolThe American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have released the first update in almost ten years to guide treatment of blood cholesterol to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).  There are some big changes that will undoubtedly be controversial, including a statement by the Expert Panel that developed the guidelines that there is no randomized

blood cholesterolThe American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have released the first update in almost ten years to guide treatment of blood cholesterol to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).  There are some big changes that will undoubtedly be controversial, including a statement by the Expert Panel that developed the guidelines that there is no randomized clinical trial (RCT) evidence to support continued use of specific LDL-C and/or non-HDL-C treatment targets.

Who Should be Considered for Treatment with Statins?

The report starts by stating that healthy lifestyle is the foundation for ASCVD risk reduction.  You know the drill:  heart healthy diet, regular exercise, no tobacco, and maintenance of a healthy weight.

Then, they detail the four major groups of people who could benefit from statin treatment:

  1. Individuals with clinical ASCVD, including not just people with prior heart attacks, angina, or coronary artery disease resulting in a stent or bypass but also people with atherosclerotic stroke, TIA, or peripheral arterial disease.
  2. People with primary elevations of LDL-C of 190 mg/dL or greater
  3. Diabetics 40-75 years old with LDL-C of 70-189 mg/dl
  4. Individuals, 40-75, without clinical ASCVD or diabetes with a LDL of 70-189 mg/dL, but an estimated absolute 10-year risk of ASCVD (nonfatal MI, CHD death, nonfatal and fatal stroke).  The risk should be estimated using what they call Pooled Cohort Equations.  Here’s a link to the downloadable risk calculator.

What are the Treatment Recommendations?

 If the individual is a candidate for statin therapy by being in one of the four groups described above, then they should be treated with either a high- or moderate-intensity statin regimen.  The high dose regimen is defined as the daily dose that will lower LDL-C by 50% or more; moderate is the dose that lowers LDL-C by 30-<50%.

People 75 years old and above with clinical ascvd, those with LDL-C 190 mg/dL or greater, and those with diabetes and an estimated 10 year ASCVD risk > 7.5% should be treated with a high-intensity regimen.  Everyone else should get a moderate intensity regimen.  Individuals who are unable to tolerate or not candidates for high dose regimens should be treated with the moderate intensity dosing and those individuals, 40-75, without ASCVD, LDL-C 190 or greater,  or diabetes will be treated with either a moderate or high intensity statin regimen.

The guideline points out that people with class II or IV heart failure or those on hemodialysis are unlikely to benefit from statin therapy despite being at high risk for ASCVD.

Treat to Target?

 Prior guidelines have emphasized the need to treat to target leading to escalating doses and multi-drug regimens.  The Expert panel says there are three problems with this approach:

  1. Current clinical trial data do not indicate what the target should be
  2. We don’t know mow much additional risk reduction could be achieved with a lower target compared to another target
  3. The treat to target strategy did not take potential adverse effects of these more intensive regimens into account.

The Panel states that treating according to the level of ASCVD risk using moderate or high intensity therapy  takes into account both the benefits of ASCVD risk reduction and the adverse effects of statin treatment based on a huge body of RCT evidence.  It is also simpler to implement.

How to Get the Guideline

The guideline can be found on the AHA website and it is certainly worth reading cover to cover.  There is likely to be a lot of discussion about these recommendations, particularly the one to treat based on risk group rather than treat to target.  And, it is likely to take a while before clinicians fully embrace these new recommendations and put them into practice.   But it is refreshing to know that many many experts in the subject have reviewed, discussed and debated the literature and placed the results before us in the form of this guideline.  Evidence rules (I hope)!

(Photo: SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

TAGGED: cholesterol

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
psalber November 14, 2013 November 14, 2013
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article obamacare Tattering the Safety Net
Next Article Harvard Students Design ChemoPatch for Cancer Treatments Outside the Hospital

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

get second opinion to avoid medical errors
The Role Of Second Opinions In Medical Errors
Medicare December 10, 2023
mental health technology
Providing Mental Health To Your Local Community with Technology
Mental Health December 10, 2023
urgent care
Urgent Care in Downers Grove: Meeting Community Health Care Needs
Health care December 10, 2023
weight loss
3 Simple Tips for Quick Weight Loss
Weight Loss December 10, 2023

You Might also Like

get second opinion to avoid medical errors
Medicare

The Role Of Second Opinions In Medical Errors

December 10, 2023
urgent care
Health care

Urgent Care in Downers Grove: Meeting Community Health Care Needs

December 10, 2023
weight loss
Weight Loss

3 Simple Tips for Quick Weight Loss

December 10, 2023
tirzepatide
Weight Loss

Role of Tirzepatide Role in Diabetes Management and Weight Loss

December 7, 2023
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US
© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?