Conclusions:

The following are 10 points to remember about this American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol:

1. The 2013 ACC/AHA Expert Panel included all 16 members of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) IV, and the document review included numerous expert reviewers, representatives of federal agencies, and ACC/AHA prevention task force members. The expert panel recommendations arose from careful consideration of an extensive body of higher quality evidence derived from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs.

2. Lifestyle modification (i.e., adhering to a heart healthy diet, regular exercise habits, avoidance of tobacco products, and maintenance of a healthy weight) remains a critical component of health promotion and ASCVD risk reduction, both prior to and in concert with the use of cholesterol-lowering drug therapies. The 2013 ACC/AHA lifestyle and obesity guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations in these areas. A new lifetime ASCVD risk estimator facilitates lifestyle and risk factor control improvement in younger adults starting at age 20.

3. Through a rigorous process, four groups of individuals were identified, for whom an extensive body of RCT evidence demonstrated a reduction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events (including coronary heart disease, cardiovascular deaths, and fatal and nonfatal strokes) with a good margin of safety from statin therapy:

Four Statin Benefit Groups:

1. Individuals with clinical ASCVD (acute coronary syndromes, or a history of myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina, coronary or other arterial revascularization, stroke, TIA, or peripheral arterial disease presumed to be of atherosclerotic origin) without New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV heart failure or receiving hemodialysis.
   
   
2. Individuals with primary elevations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥190 mg/dl.
   
   
3. Individuals 40-75 years of age with diabetes, and LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl without clinical ASCVD.
   
   
4. Individuals without clinical ASCVD or diabetes, who are 40-75 years of age with LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl, and have an estimated 10-year ASCVD risk of 7.5% or higher.
   

4. Individuals in the fourth group can be identified by using the new Pooled Cohort Equations for ASCVD risk prediction, developed by the Risk Assessment Work Group. The 10-year ASCVD risk estimate should be the starting point for the clinician–patient discussion to decide whether to initiate statin therapy for primary prevention. The potential for an ASCVD risk reduction benefit, adverse effects, drug–drug interactions, and patient preferences should inform this decision.

5. There is insufficient evidence to support continued use of specific LDL-C and/or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) treatment targets. The appropriate intensity of statin therapy should be used to reduce risk in those most likely to benefit. Nonstatin therapies, whether alone or in addition to statins, provide little ASCVD risk reduction benefit, or no benefit compared to their potential for adverse effects, in the routine prevention of ASCVD.

6. This guideline recommends use of the new Pooled Cohort Equations to estimate 10-year ASCVD risk in both white and black men and women. By more accurately identifying higher-risk individuals for statin therapy, the guideline focuses statin therapy on those most likely to benefit. It also indicates, based on RCT data, those high-risk groups that may not benefit such as those with NYHA class II-IV heart failure, or who are receiving maintenance hemodialysis.

7. Statin therapy can be considered in selected individuals who are not included in the four statin benefit groups. Primary prevention statin therapy can be considered for those with 5 to <7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk for those ages 40-75 years with LDL-C 70-189 mg/dl. Due to the lack of RCT evidence, no specific primary prevention recommendations are made for individuals with LDL-C <190 mg/dl with LDL-C <70 mg/dl, age <40 years or >75 years, or with <5% 10-year ASCVD risk. In these individuals, whose 10-year risk is <7.5% or when the decision is unclear, other factors including family history of premature ASCVD, LDL-C >160 mg/dl, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ≥2 mg/dl, coronary calcium score ≥300 Agatston units or ≥75th percentile for age, sex, ethnicity, and ankle-brachial index <0.9, or elevated lifetime risk of ASCVD may be used to enhance the treatment decision making.

8. High-intensity statin therapy is defined as a daily dose that lowers LDL-C by ≥50% and moderate-intensity by 30% to <50%. All patients with ASCVD up to age 75 years are candidates for high-intensity statin therapy unless safety concerns are present. A moderate-intensity statin should be used if not a candidate for a high-intensity statin or if age >75 years. Those with an LDL-C ≥190 mg/dl should receive high-intensity or moderate-intensity statin therapy, if not a candidate for high-intensity statin therapy. Addition of other cholesterol-lowering agents can be considered to further lower LDL-C. Those with diabetes, ages 40-75 years, should receive a moderate-intensity statin; a high-intensity statin can be considered if ≥7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk. Patients ages 40-75 years with ≥7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk may receive a moderate- or high-intensity statin; those with <7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk should receive a moderate-intensity statin to minimize the excess risk of diabetes.

9. Regular follow-up visits are needed to monitor adherence to lifestyle and statin therapy. LDL-C levels should be routinely evaluated as part of adherence assessment.

10. The following are no longer considered appropriate strategies: treat to target, lower is best. The new guideline recommends: treat to level of ASCVD risk, based upon estimated 10-year or lifetime risk of ASCVD. The guidelines provided no recommendations for initiating or discontinuing statins in NYHA class II-IV ischemic systolic heart failure patients or those on maintenance hemodialysis.