[How I treat ... dyslipidemia according to the cardiovascular risk profile]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Atherosclerosis
• Lipidology

Context:

• Recent European guidelines from the European Atherosclerosis Society and European Society of Cardiology introduce novel approaches to cardiovascular disease management.
• These guidelines emphasize a risk-stratified approach for primary prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia.

Purpose:

• To illustrate the practical application of key components of the new European guidelines through clinical examples.
• To highlight four critical aspects relevant to medical practice: risk stratification, LDL cholesterol targets, non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B targets, and monitoring protocols.

Summary:

• Cardiovascular disease risk is stratified into 'very high,' 'high,' 'moderate,' and 'low' categories using the SCORE table, adjusted for HDL cholesterol and other factors.
• More stringent therapeutic targets for LDL cholesterol are defined: <70 mg/dl (very high risk), 100 mg/dl (high risk), and 115 mg/dl (moderate risk).
• Specific targets for non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B are recommended for patients with combined dyslipidemia at very high or high risk, alongside protocols for monitoring lipid parameters and enzyme profiles.

Impact:

• Facilitates personalized cardiovascular risk assessment and management in clinical settings.
• Promotes more aggressive lipid-lowering strategies for high-risk individuals, potentially reducing cardiovascular events.
• Provides a framework for comprehensive patient follow-up, including lipid profiles and safety monitoring.