The evaluation of the patient with hypercholesterolemia

In 1985, the National Institutes of Health convened a Consensus Conference of experts in the field of atherosclerosis. This group developed recommendations for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. Their report noted that physician and patient education had been responsible for success in treating other important coronary disease risk factors such as hypertension and smoking. They concluded that a similar educational approach would facilitate the discovery and treatment of elevated serum cholesterol. Such a program would have a major impact on morbidity and mortality from atherosclerosis related to hypercholesterolemia.