Dyslipaemia is one of the main risk factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Currently, there are different alternatives available (amongst which statins occupy a pre-eminent place), to optimise the treatment of patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk. Despite this, the percentage of patients that achieve good lipid control is low. The causes of the mismatch with proposed objectives include lack of patient adherence and therapeutic inertia. This review uses available evidence and the latest clinical guides as a basis to assess the pharmacological treatment of dyslipaemia in patients with a background of arteriosclerotic vascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular risk at ≥5% calculated by SCORE and familial hypercholesterolaemia. The treatment of hypertriglyceridemia is also reviewed along with the special consideration that poly-pharmacy deserves in patients treated with statins, making mention of the treatment of dyslipaemia with HIV infection. The global assessment of cardiovascular risk is of high priority to adapt treatment to the specific objectives of the c-LDL for each risk category.