The update,* published in the July 13 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, is endorsed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. The document is based on a review of 5 major clinical trials of statin therapy** conducted since the 2001 release of the NCEP's cholesterol guidelines known as the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III Report. NHLBI, a component of the National Institutes of Health, coordinates the NCEP.
"The recent trials add to the evidence that when it comes to LDL (bad) cholesterol, lower is better for persons with high risk for heart attack," said NHLBI Acting Director Barbara Alving, M.D. "These trials show a direct relationship between lower LDL cholesterol levels and reduced risk for major coronary events. So, it is important to consider more intensive treatment for people at very high risk," she added.
Major recommendations in the update include:
For the overall category of high-risk patients, the update lowers the threshold for drug therapy to
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