What is the Optimal Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol?

Andrew Gagel; Fawzi Zghyer; Christeen Samuel; Seth S Martin

doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2021.11.005

What is the Optimal Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol?

Med Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;106(2):285-298. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.11.005. Epub 2022 Feb 2.

Authors

Andrew Gagel¹, Fawzi Zghyer¹, Christeen Samuel², Seth S Martin³

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 E Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
² Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
³ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Carnegie 591, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Advanced Lipid Disorders Program, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, 600 North Wolfe Street, Carnegie 591, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: smart100@jhmi.edu.

PMID: 35227431
DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2021.11.005

Abstract

One's total atherosclerotic plaque burden is related to his or her cumulative exposure to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and other apoB-containing lipoproteins. Long-term exposure to lower LDL-C levels is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events compared with shorter term exposure to lower LDL-C. New lipid-reducing agents have been able to reduce LDL-C to previously unseen levels, showing efficacy in safely decreasing rates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in primary and secondary prevention populations. To date, an LDL-C level less than which there is no clinical benefit has not yet been identified.

Keywords: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); Cerebrovascular accident (CVA); Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); Peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Atherosclerosis* / prevention & control
Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
Cholesterol, LDL / therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors

Substances

Cholesterol, LDL