Implications of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines on contemporary clinical practice for patients with atherosclerotic coronary and peripheral arterial disease

Application of the ACC/AHA guidelines results in a higher percentage of patients considered to be 'at goal' when compared to the ATP III guidelines without changes in clinical practice. This is due to patients ≤75 years old on adequate statin doses but still have LDL-C levels >100 mg/dl, thereby raising concerns that physicians may not pursue alternate LDL reduction strategies since they are now considered at goal despite LDL-C >100 mg/dl. Lipid management of PAD patients remains sub-optimal as compared to CAD and CAD + PAD.