Abstract
In November 2013, the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) released a clinical practice guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in adults. The guideline recommendations were developed from a rigorous systematic review of randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs that evaluated ASCVD outcomes. Major recommendations address a healthy lifestyle, identification of groups of patients most likely to experience a net benefit form statin therapy, appropriate intensity of statin therapy to reduce ASCVD, safety, decision-making in primary prevention, monitoring therapy, and appropriate use of nonstatin therapy. Areas of controversy are discussed.
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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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Disclosures
Research grants to Institution: Amarin, Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, Daiichi-Sankyo, Genentech/Hoffman La Roche, Glaxo-Smith Kline, Merck, Regeneron/Sanofi, Zinfandel/Takeda.
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Conflict of Interest
Jennifer G. Robinson has consulted for Amgen, Hoffman LaRoche, Merck, Pfizer, and Sanofi.
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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on 2013 Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines
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Robinson, J.G. 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guideline for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: What is so Controversial?. Curr Atheroscler Rep 16, 413 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-014-0413-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-014-0413-5