Cholesterol guidelines update: More aggressive therapy for higher-risk patients

ABSTRACT

The 2004 update to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines goes farther than the 2001 version in suggesting an optional low-density lipopro-tein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal of less than 70 mg/dL for patients at “very high risk.” It recommends starting both diet and drug therapy in all patients at high or very high risk whose LDL-C level is above the goal level, with the goal of reducing LDL-C by 30% to 40%. These more aggressive guidelines are based on results of five clinical studies published since 2001.