Sign up for email alert when new content gets added: Sign up
Reduced Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) with statin medication is one of the most important strategies for preventing and treating Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). With a drop in LDL-C, the risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) diminishes, although there is no accepted level at which the risk becomes minor. The current practice guidelines for primary CAD prevention advocate calculating ASCVD risk rather than starting statin medication at a specific cholesterol level. Patients with known CAD or who come with Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) should take a high-dose statin regardless of their baseline LDL-C values. However, the ideal LDL-C level for secondary CAD prevention is unknown. Statins have pleiotropic effects, such as decreasing inflammation and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques, in addition to lowering LDL-C.
