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Residual risk in statin-treated patients: Future therapeutic options

  • Lipid Abnormalities and Cardiovascular Prevention
  • Published:
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Abstract

Statin therapy for aggressive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, even on maximal statin therapy, high-risk patients have substantial residual risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Certain subgroups, such as individuals with diabetes mellitus, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), metabolic syndrome, or other comorbidities, have a particularly high residual risk. Patients at high risk for future CHD events often require multiple aggressive risk-reduction therapies (eg, antiplatelet agents, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, β-blockade, cholesterol and/or diabetes management, and lifestyle interventions) to further lower their overall cardiovascular risk. For cholesterol management, combination therapy may be required to attain optimal levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Preventive Cardiology Center, Blalock 524C, 600 North Wolfe Street, 21287, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Roger S. Blumenthal MD

Authors
  1. Catherine Y. Campbell MD
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  2. Juan J. Rivera MD
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  3. Roger S. Blumenthal MD
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Correspondence to Roger S. Blumenthal MD.

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Campbell, C.Y., Rivera, J.J. & Blumenthal, R.S. Residual risk in statin-treated patients: Future therapeutic options. Curr Cardiol Rep 9, 499–505 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02938395

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02938395

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