Implementing New Guidelines: Changing Paradigms for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events

The new American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association cholesterol guideline introduces broader recommendations for the assessment of patients at risk for cardiovascular events. Some of the strategies are welcome changes for prevention specialists, but treatment recommendations have led to confusion for those who focus on wellness or treat patients with recurrent events. Some experts suggest we implement a “hybrid” of recently published expert guidelines that includes information gleaned from randomized controlled trials plus other types of research. Recent guidelines from various expert groups are presented to help practitioners identify individuals who warrant more aggressive treatment in order to prevent devastating cardiovascular events.