NLA Issues New Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Cholesterol

Expert Panel Re-affirms the Importance of Setting Cholesterol Goals for the Prevention of Heart Attack and Stroke

NEW YORK (Sept. 15, 2014) — Today, the National Lipid Association (NLA) released new recommendations based on a panel of independent experts, published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. The recommendations highlight the importance of doctors and patients setting cholesterol goals and focusing on patient’s risk and risk factors, rather than on specific categories of medication. The recommendations take into account that each patient’s unique medical and personal history requires a multifaceted approach to prevention and treatment; and that a strong patient-provider relationship is essential to achieve long-term success in preventing cardiovascular disease.

“The new NLA recommendations are targeted at healthcare providers to help patients better understand their treatment options, reduce cardiovascular risk, and set actionable and attainable goals for treatment,” said Dr. Terry A. Jacobson, MD, President, National Lipid Association, and Professor of Medicine, Emory University. “The panel emphasizes that patients and providers working in partnership to achieve mutually agreed-upon cholesterol and lifestyle goals will equip patients with the metrics of success needed to prevent and reduce cardiovascular events.”

The new recommendations can guide healthcare providers in the diagnosis and treatment of lipid disorders. They are intended to provide additional expert guidance to previous guidelines currently available for the treatment of blood cholesterol.

The NLA expert panel’s consensus emphasizes that a more comprehensive measure of cholesterol-related risk called non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is a better primary target for treatment than the traditionally reported LDL-C, which is commonly referred to as the “bad cholesterol.” The Non-HDL cholesterol is simply the difference between the total cholesterol concentration and the HDL, or “good cholesterol,” and can be obtained in the non-fasting state without additional cost.

For the main conclusions of the NLA Recommendations for Patient-Centered Management of Dyslipidemia, see lipid.org/recommendations/conclusions.

Many approaches that safely lower blood cholesterol—including improved dietary and exercise habits and several medications—have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk in higher-risk individuals. While statin medications in specific doses have the most supportive evidence, clinical judgment should be used to determine the best individual approach for each patient.