Despite significant advances in prevention and treatment, cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Nevertheless, the mortality from cardiovascular disease has decreased dramatically over the past few decades. Among the modifiable risk factors, dyslipidemia is a leading contributor to the development of coronary heart disease, and cholesterol-lowering treatment, primarily with statins, has been considered responsible for improvements in cardiovascular outcomes over the past 20 years. As such, physicians and researchers are frequently reevaluating the optimal approach and recommendations for cholesterol-lowering therapy for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The objectives of this article are to review the evidence and efficacy of cholesterol-lowering therapies and to examine the current major societal guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia and appropriate patient selection.
Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: The past, present, and future of blood pressure- and cholesterol-lowering treatments
