Cholesterol

Patients with ASCVD face increased cardiovascular risks post revascularization, yet many miss timely LDL-C testing and treatment, highlighting critical care gaps.

High levels of remnant cholesterol were associated with increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Researchers unveil a groundbreaking method using polypurine hairpins to inhibit PCSK9, offering a promising alternative for lowering cholesterol and reducing cardiovascular risk.

Statins such as simvastatin do not have additional antidepressive effects in combination with standard escitalopram treatment in patients with comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity.

By closing the gap on patients who are recommended lipid-lowering therapies but do not receive them, researchers say that thousands of cardiovascular events could be prevented and billions of dollars would be saved.

Although cholesterol-lowering guidance often touts the achievement of very low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, emerging research demonstrates possible safety risks.

Stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death were included in the composite of adverse cardiovascular events.

HMGCR inhibitors were found to significantly increase the risk of experiencing microvascular complications in patients with diabetes, whereas NPC1L1 inhibitors were found to reduce the risk.

Remnant cholesterol, a novel lipoprotein marker linked to elevated triglycerides, is associated with increased risk of progression and development of chronic kidney disease.

In 3 phase 3 clinical trials, enlicitide decanoate demonstrated clinically significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

Amanda Gronniger, PharmD, CPh, BCCP, discusses practical strategies pharmacists can use to improve cholesterol management, from lifestyle counseling to emerging therapies.

Kausik K. Ray, MD, discussed the importance of early, aggressive, and sustained LDL-C lowering for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease prevention, highlighting that the magnitude of cardiovascular risk reduction is independent of the specific lipid-lowering therapy used.

Børge G. Nordestgaard, MD, DMSc, discussed the role of remnant cholesterol as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and the emerging therapies that may help manage residual cardiovascular risk beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction.

Emerging therapies targeting apolipoprotein C-III (ApoC3) are demonstrating significant promise in lowering triglycerides and reducing cardiovascular risk for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia and rare disorders, such as familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Building on positive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering seen in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, inclisiran was found to induce meaningful and sustained LDL-C reductions following recent acute coronary syndrome.

Sander Kersten, PhD, discusses the distinct roles of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 in lipid metabolism, their interactions with key enzymes, the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways in lipid-lowering strategies, and important considerations for pharmacists counseling patients on emerging ANGPTL-targeted therapies.

Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, emphasizes the importance of whole-food dietary patterns over macronutrient percentages for improving lipid profiles and cardiovascular health.

With each increase in lipoprotein(a) level in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), there was a corresponding increase in risk of experiencing an ASCVD event.

In patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer treated without curative intent, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was associated with poor survival.

Plozasiran shows promise in reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia and other harmful conditions, addressing significant cardiovascular risks.

The fixed-dose combination yielded a 49% greater reduction in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) compared with placebo.

Experts provide guidance on managing high cholesterol in adults older than 75 years, emphasizing personalized care and shared decision-making for optimal outcomes.

A significant number of patients with high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lack prescribed lipid-lowering medications, highlighting gaps in treatment and care practices.

Lepodisiran, a small interfering RNA, demonstrated cholesterol-lowering effects at 16-mg, 96-mg, and 400-mg doses, with the highest dose being the most effective.

When used in combination with background statin therapy, AZD0780 resulted in major reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and achievements of guideline-recommended LDL-C goals.

Notably, high levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were not associated with the risk of dementia following adjustments for triglyceride levels.

These results align with those from shorter-term analyses of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions with evolocumab and cognitive impairment risk.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol value below 88 mg/dL was associated with heightened mortality, highlighting the need for more liberal cholesterol targets in this population.

Non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was found to be more effective at predicting cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial outcomes, heart failure, and others compared with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Alcohol consumption, though typically associated with adverse health outcomes, could be associated with reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).