Advances in the treatment of hyperlipidemias

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is responsible for more than 550,000 deaths each year. Despite the fact that the death rate from CHD is declining, it is still the most frequent cause of death in the US.¹ From the discovery in the early 20th century that nutrition and cholesterol intake were related to the development of atherosclerosis to the cholesterol screening and treatment guidelines recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program in 1988, great strides have been made in defining patient treatment groups, promoting nonpharmacologic therapy, and developing safe and effective drug therapy. The focus of this article is to review the pathophysiology, epidemiologic data describing treatment and reduction in CHD risk, National Cholesterol Eduction Program screening and treatment guidelines, adjuvant treatments, and new pharmacologic therapies for treating hyperlipidemia.