Key points from article :
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for more than four million deaths in Europe each year.
"Higher LDL cholesterol is a potent cause of heart attack and stroke," - Professor Colin Baigent.
There is no lower limit of LDL cholesterol that is known to be unsafe.
"High or very high-risk patients receive LDL cholesterol lowering therapy irrespective of baseline level," - Professor Alberico L. Catapano.
Benefits of statins greatly outweigh their hazards.
Statins are not recommended in pre-menopausal women.
Evidence for statin therapy is more limited in patients over 75, still consistent with a benefit.
Guidelines recommend measuring Lp(a) at least once in adulthood.
Fish oil supplements are recommended, in combination with a statin to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic CVD events.
"The main requirements are healthy diet, avoidance of cigarette smoking, and regular exercise," - Professor Francois Mach.
ESC and EAS Guidelines on dyslipidemias published in European Heart Journal.
