RATIONALE FOR EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

The primary objective of treating hypercholesterolemia is to reduce th e patient's risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels to achieve National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) goal lipid levels greatly reduces this risk. Treatment of additional risk factors for CAD (high blood p ressure, diabetes, smoking) should be addressed and modified as part o f appropriate patient management, but a high LDL cholesterol level is a major risk factor. Therefore, to effectively modify morbidity and mo rtality, reaching and maintaining NCEP target lipid levels should be t he goal of lipid-lowering therapy. Epidemiologic data indicate that mo st adults in the United States need <30% reduction in LDL cholesterol level to achieve their NCEP goal. Regardless of the intervention or th erapeutic agent used, the results of numerous studies have demonstrate d that reducing LDL cholesterol levels to NCEP goals will result in si gnificant reduction of CAD risk.