MANAGING COMORBIDITIES THROUGH CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING AGENTS

Cardiovascular disease is not the result of a single disease but is th e sum of multiple comorbid conditions that act independently and in ta ndem to create an increased probability for heart disease and stroke. More than 200 risk factors and/or comorbid diseases for cardiovascular disease have been identified. The correct diagnosis of comorbid disea ses is integral to being able to accurately interpret individual risk profiles and to construct a rational treatment paradigm that allows mu ltiple modalities of care. In a time when optimal delivery of healthca re is linked to the most cost-effective allocation of limited resource s, determining overall risk and defining the most effective interventi on strategies is not an idle intellectual exercise but a matter of vit al necessity. Identifying common comorbid diseases that can exist with hyperlipidemia is essential for appropriate treatment and risk reduct ion. In addition to being able to identify comorbid diseases, clinicia ns must have an understanding of how these comorbid conditions interre late and affect overall cardiovascular health. The primary objective o f treating hypercholesterolemia is to reduce the patient's risk of dev eloping cardiovascular disease. Modifying the additional risks that ar e introduced by comorbid diseases is appropriate and necessary. Therap y for comorbid conditions will add to the benefit obtained from, but c an never be substituted for, the primary goal-reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.