South African dyslipidaemia guideline consensus statement.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Atherosclerosis
• Public Health

Background:

• Updated 2011 European dyslipidaemia guidelines were published by the European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society.
• These guidelines are officially adopted by SA Heart and the Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society of Southern Africa.
• This statement adapts European guidelines for the South African context.

Framework:

• Cardiovascular risk assessment utilizes updated Framingham risk charts.
• Interventional strategies are determined by cardiovascular risk score and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels.
• The Framingham risk score estimates the 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event, categorized into four risk levels.

Implementation:

• Treatment targets align with European guidelines.
• Specific LDL-C goals are set: 1.8 mmol/l for very high-risk (>30%), 2.5 mmol/l for high-risk (15-30%), and 3 mmol/l for lower-risk (<15%).

Implications:

• Intensive management of dyslipidaemia in South Africa is projected to significantly decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease.
• Adaptation of international guidelines enhances local cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.