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Published on: November 10, 2017

Complementary therapy to target LDL cholesterol: the role of the ezetimibe/simvastatin combination

Ryan C Neal1, Peter H Jones

  • 1Baylor College of Medicine, Section of Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rneal@bcm.tmc.edu

Vascular Health and Risk Management
|February 27, 2007
PubMed

Insights

New guidelines recommend lower LDL-C goals for high-risk patients. Ezetimibe/simvastatin offers an effective option for achieving these targets in cardiovascular disease management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the USA.
  • Declining coronary heart disease (CHD) death rates may stem from aggressive management of risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review updated National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals.
  • To discuss the efficacy and safety of ezetimibe/simvastatin as a lipid-lowering therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of updated NCEP guidelines.
  • Analysis of clinical data on ezetimibe/simvastatin efficacy and safety for LDL-C reduction.

Main Results:

  • Updated NCEP guidelines necessitate more potent lipid-lowering therapies.
  • Ezetimibe/simvastatin demonstrates efficacy in lowering LDL-C to meet new targets.

Conclusions:

  • Clinicians require effective therapies to meet new, lower LDL-C goals.
  • Ezetimibe/simvastatin is a viable option for managing high LDL-C in high-risk patients.

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