A lipidologist perspective of global lipid guidelines and recommendations, part 1: Lipid treatment targets and risk assessment

- Having knowledge of worldwide lipid guidelines and recommendations may provide clinicians a more global perspective on lipid management.
- Lipid guidelines and recommendations have significant concordance regarding the need to reduce atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and are in general agreement on the primary lipid treatment targets.
- A substantial degree of agreement exists among guidelines and recommendations in their emphasis on the need for aggressive treatment of hypercholesterolemia, for which the predominance of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) outcomes studies suggests statins as the first-line treatment of choice.

Having knowledge of worldwide lipid guidelines and recommendations may provide clinicians a more global perspective on lipid management. This perspective reviews 8 international scientific and/or medical organizations' lipid guidelines, recommendations, and position papers: the National Lipid Association (2014), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2014), International Atherosclerosis Society (2013), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (2013), Canadian Cardiovascular Society (2013), Japan Atherosclerosis Society (2012), European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (2012), and Adult Treatment Panel III (2001/2004). Part 1 of this perspective focuses on sentinel components of these lipid guidelines and recommendations as applied to the role of atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol levels, primary lipid target of therapy, other primary and secondary lipid treatment targets, and assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Part 2 examines goals of lipid-altering therapy to reduce ASCVD events. Both parts 1 and 2 include the author's perspective on sentinel topics. In general, some guidelines and recommendations differ with regard to ASCVD risk assessment and lipid treatment goals. However, lipid guidelines and recommendations have significant concordance regarding the need to reduce atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and are in general agreement on the primary lipid treatment targets. Finally, a substantial degree of agreement exists among guidelines and recommendations in their emphasis on the need for aggressive treatment of hypercholesterolemia, for which the predominance of ASCVD outcomes studies suggests statins as the first-line treatment of choice.