Cholesterol News, Again?

In November 2013, the American  Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) released new guidelines for cholesterol therapy in adults 20-79 years old. The guidelines were based on solid medical evidence but, nonetheless, generated a lot of controversy and even opposing opinions from experts in the field. On one hand, the guidelines argue for limiting some of the cholesterol testing we now use as a guide for therapy. On the other hand, the guidelines recommend therapy (the use of statin drugs) for certain groups of patients, regardless of their blood cholesterol levels. The controversy which evolved was covered in articles in the New York Times last November. The two titles convey the opposing messages: Experts Reshape Treatment Guide for Cholesterol and Don’t Give More Patients Statins.

Some of the best known statin drugs now in use include: Atorvastatin (Lipitor), Rosuvastatin (Crestor), Lovastatin and Simvastatin.

A study on the subject was published in the New England Journal of Medicine of  3/20/2014 by Michael J. Pencina, PhD, from the Duke Clinical Research Institute. It reports that the new guidelines would increase the number of U.S. adults eligible for statin therapy by almost 13 million, and that most adults between 60-75 years old would become candidates for treatment. I also refer to the guidelines in my blog of last November, Statins, To Take Or Not To Take.

The guidelines use a newly updated, computerized cardiac risk assessment tool, in deriving its recommendations. We use the same tool in our office.

Are You Walking Outdoors Yet?

Our citron is being acclimatized to the outdoors. Are you?