Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality for patients with advanced age. Changes in lipid metabolism are common and play an important role as key risk factors. This article explains an approach in the diagnostics of dyslipidemia according to the current guidelines. First, the overall risk evaluation of cardiovascular mortality based on the current chart has to be evaluated. Depending on these results an individual LDL-C goal should be defined. The article also includes other relevant cardiovascular risk factors which were not included in the established risk charts. Furthermore, the main innovative biomarkers are discussed in their possible applications and diagnostic value.