Heart disease

Aggressive and effective lipid-lowering treatment that combines lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy is key to preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusions

Over the past 50 years the lipid hypothesis has grown from an obscure theory to a central concept in the practice of cardiovascular medicine and the prevention of heart disease. The concept began with the pioneering work of Dr Ancel Keys, who helped establish the epidemiological link between dietary fats, serum cholesterol, and atherosclerotic coronary and vascular disease. But the early observations would have meant nothing if large randomized trials had not confirmed the role of dyslipidemia in cardiovascular disease and the beneficial effects of contemporary lipid management.

The key to the management of dyslipidemia remains a balanced combination of education, early prevention, lifestyle modification (including a low-fat diet and regular exercise), and tailored pharmacotherapy. While controversies continue regarding what is the most appropriate target for li­pid levels and whether monotherapy should be pursued over combination therapy, the fact remains that up to 50% of ischemic heart disease worldwide can be accounted for by dyslipidemia with treatment benefits “substantially greater than those associated with hypertension therapy.”[41] As such, the need for an aggressive and effective lipid-lowering treatment approach could not be more relevant.

Issue: BCMJ, Vol. 51, No. 2, March 2009, page(s) 66-72 Articles
Jason Andrade, MD, FRCPC, Aneez Mohamed, MD, FRCPC, Jiri Frohlich, MD, FRCPC, Andrew Ignaszewski, MD, FRCPC

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