Open AccessThe Importance of lowering cholesterol in patients with coronary heart disease
Author(s) -
Eisenberg Daniel
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960210204
Subject(s) - medicine , cholesterol , cardiology , disease , coronary heart disease , myocardial infarction , coronary disease , secondary prevention , clinical trial , vascular disease , cholesterol lowering , ldl cholesterol , atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease , primary prevention
Abstract Patients with prior manifestations of cardiovascular disease account for about 50% of all myocardial infarctions and 70% of deaths due to coronary disease. The benefits of lowering elevated cholesterol levels in patients with coronary disease are well documented. Recent clinical trials indicate that these benefits, in terms of reduced risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, extend even to patients with “average” cholesterol levels and support the importance of reaching a target low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level of ≤ 100 mg/dl. These findings argue in favor of attaining and maintaining optimal lipid targets for secondary (and primary) prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease in patients at risk.