[Hypercholesterolemia, from screening to treatment: Who, why and how to manage]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Hypercholesterolemia, characterized by elevated circulating cholesterol, is the most prevalent form of dyslipidemia.
• It significantly elevates the risk of developing atheromatous cardiovascular diseases.
• Screening for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is crucial due to its association with severe, early-onset coronary disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenges in defining therapeutic intervention thresholds for hypercholesterolemia.
• To optimize primary prevention strategies by balancing clinical benefits against potential side effects of lipid-lowering treatments.
• To review screening, therapeutic targets, benefits, and management modalities, including statin intolerance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on hypercholesterolemia screening and management.
• Analysis of guidelines for therapeutic target definition in dyslipidemia.
• Discussion of evidence regarding the benefits and risks of lipid-lowering therapies.

Main Results:

• Establishing appropriate thresholds for intervention is key to maximizing clinical benefit while minimizing treatment side effects.
• Early identification of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is critical for aggressive management.
• Effective therapeutic strategies exist but require careful consideration of individual patient profiles and potential intolerance.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing hypercholesterolemia screening and management is essential for reducing cardiovascular disease burden.
• Personalized therapeutic targets and strategies, including management of statin intolerance, are necessary for effective primary prevention.
• Further research may refine intervention thresholds and treatment protocols for dyslipidemia.