Optimal management of dyslipidemia in women and men

Relatively few studies have examined the clinical effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs in women as compared with men. Most clinical trials do indicate that cholesterol lowering reduces clinical events equally effectively in both genders. However, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels may have more prognostic significance in women. The recent finding of a higher risk of death in younger women as compared with younger men who sustain a heart attack, combined with the high proportion of morbidity and mortality due to CHD in older women, emphasizes the need for a better understanding of heart disease in women. This review explores the similarities and differences between women and men regarding the management of dyslipidemia.