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Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that begins in early childhood, and without intervention, progresses throughout life, and inevitably worsens over time, sometimes rapidly. LDL cholesterol, beyond being a cardiovascular risk factor, is a causal agent of atherosclerosis. Without LDL cholesterol there is no atherosclerosis, so the evolution of the disease is modifiable, and even reversible., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To gather opinions, recommendations, and proposals for improvement from Spanish clinicians on cardiovascular (CV) health, with particular focus on dyslipidemia management., Methods: The Expert Insights project involved 8face-to-face sessions held throughout Spain, attended by 138 CV health experts. Clinicians answered to 25 questions survey related to CV health and dyslipidemia control. Each session included an analysis and a discussion on the perceived realities and areas for improvement., Results: 72% of centers have a standardized process for monitoring patients after a CV episode at discharge, but only 37% during their clinical follow-up. Patient care and management are dependent on the physician, with a lack of coordination between hospital specialties and primary care (PC). 95% of clinicians believe it is necessary to standarize treatment optimization. 65% of centers prescribe combined lipid-lowering treatment after a CV episode. Updating cLDL levels in the Therapeutic Positioning Report and standardizing and globalizing the prescription document would reduce iPCSK9 prescription barriers and lead to more equitable access., Conclusions: In Spain, there are significant deficiencies in the management of dyslipidemia, with a great need for a consensus on standardizing management processes and optimizing patient treatment. The opinions, recommendations, and improvement proposals from Spanish clinicians on CV health are an important starting point to improve the situation., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

In the management of hypercholesterolemia, besides advising a healthy, plant-based diet, it may be useful to recommend functional foods or nutraceutical with cholesterol-lowering properties. Given the progressive increase in the number of these products and their rising use by the population, the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis (SEA) has considered it appropriate to review the available information, select the results of the scientifically more robust studies and take a position on their usefulness, to recommend to health professionals and the general population their potential utility in terms of efficacy and their possible benefits and limitations. The following clinical scenarios have been identified in which these products could be used and will be analyzed in more detail in this document: (1) Hypolipidemic treatment in subjects with statin intolerance. (2) Hypolipidemic treatment «a la carte» in individuals in primary prevention. (3) Long-term cardiovascular prevention in individuals with no indication for lipid-lowering therapy. (4) Patients with optimized lipid-lowering treatment who do not achieve therapeutic objectives., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: GALIPEMIAS is a study designed to establish the prevalence of familial dyslipidemia in the general population of Galicia. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD), its relationship with other cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors, and the degree of lipid control., Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in the general population over 18 years of age residing in Galicia and with a health card from the Galician Health Service (N=1,000). Selection of the sample by means of random sampling by conglomerates. The AD prevalence adjusted for age and sex and the related variables were analyzed., Results: The prevalence of AD adjusted for age and sex was 6.6% (95% CI: 5.0-8.3%). Arterial hypertension, altered basal glycemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease were more frequent in subjects with AD than in the rest of the population. 47.5% of the subjects with AD had a high or very high CVR. Lipid-lowering drugs were received by 38.9% (30.5% statins) of the participants with AD (46.1% of those with high and 71.4% of those with very high CVR). 25.4% of the subjects with AD had target LDL-c levels, all of them with low or moderate CVR., Conclusions: The prevalence of AD in the general adult population of Galicia is not negligible, and it was related to several CVR factors and cardiovascular disease. Despite this, this lipid alteration was underdiagnosed and undertreated., (Copyright © 2022. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Introduction and Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases continue to lead the ranking of mortality in Spain. The implementation of geostatistical analysis techniques in the clinical laboratory are innovative tools that allow the design of new strategies in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence and geolocation of severe dyslipidemia in the health areas under study in order to implement prevention strategies in primary care. A retrospective cohort study of low-density protein-bound cholesterol, triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) levels in the years 2019 and 2020 were carried out. In addition, a geostatistical analysis was performed including representation in choropleth maps and the detection of clustering clusters, using geographic information in zip code format included in the demographic data of each analytic., Results: The analytical data included in the study were triglycerides (n=365,384), low density protein-bound cholesterol (n=289,594) and lipoprotein to lipoprotein (a) (n=502). Areas with the highest and lowest percentage of cases were identified for the established cut-off points of LDL-C>190mg/dL and TG>150mg/dL. Two clustering clusters with statistical significance were detected for cLDL>190mg/dL and a total of 6 clusters for TG values>150mg/dL., Conclusions: The detection of clusters, as well as the representation of choropleth maps, can be of great help in detecting geographic areas that require greater attention to intervene and improve cardiovascular risk., (Copyright © 2022 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The lipid theory of atherosclerosis dates back more than a century. Despite this, some authors have questioned the relevance of hypercholesterolaemia in its development. Multiple experimental, epidemiological, and clinical evidence underpins this association. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains as the major cause of mortality in the world. Recent genetic studies of Mendelian randomisation and randomised clinical trials aimed at LDL cholesterol reduction, are summarised in this article. They, unequivocally ratify the aetiological role of LDL cholesterol in the development of atherosclerosis. Thus, LDL cholesterol lowering is the cornerstone of lipid lowering therapy for the reduction of cardiovascular complications of atherosclerosis., (Copyright © 2021. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

The reduction of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-chol) has been associated with a decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It has been demonstrated that there is no value of LDL-chol below which there ceases to be a preventive benefit with its reduction, and neither has it been observed that there is a higher incidence of secondary effects associated with lower concentrations of LDL-chol. Although there is a wide range of lipid-lowering drugs available, a high percentage of patients do not achieve the desired LDL-chol levels. The high-potency statins reduce the LDL-chol by 15-30%, and can double the percentage of patients that reach their desired level. This combination has shown to be safe and effective in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Another option is the combination of statins with exchange resins, although this requires a more complex management. The inhibition of PCSK9 protein with monoclonal antibodies reduces the LDL-chol by more than 60%, and is effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, due to its cost, its use is restricted to patients with ischaemia or familial hypercholesterolaemia that do not achieve the desired levels with conventional drugs. The evidence base as regards the benefit and safety of achieving the desired levels of LDL-chol is very wide and is still increasing. In the next few years, it may be necessary to adjust the intensity of the hypercholesterolaemia treatment to the level of vascular risk of the patients, and to the level of reduction necessary to achieve the therapeutic targets. This will result in a more effective cardiovascular prevention and in a better quality of life, particularly in the large group of patients at higher vascular risk., (Copyright © 2019 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has increased in the developed countries. Dyslipidemia is a primary major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL lowering is one of the main objectives. Although treatment goals for dyslipidemias should be personalized in every patient, statins are cost-effective in primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. New treatments with higher power and greater decreases in LDL, PSCK9 inhibitors, have made a new breakthrough in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease treatment. The 2019 guidelines for de management of dyslipidemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk (European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society) with the level of evidence and the strength of the recommendations can facilitate the best decisions and benefits to our patients in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2019. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Reducing low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) is the main lipid goal of treatment for patients with very high cardiovascular risk. In these patients the therapeutic goal is to achieve a LDL-c lower than 70 mg/dL, as recommended by the guidelines for cardiovascular prevention commonly used in Spain and Europe. However, the degree of achieving these objectives in this group of patients is very low. This article describes the prevalence of the problem and the causes that motivate it. Recommendations and tools that can facilitate the design of an optimal treatment strategy for achieving the goals are also given. In addition, a new tool with a simple algorithm that can allow these very high risk patients to achieve the goals "in two-steps", i.e., with only two doctor check-ups, is presented., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Arteriosclerosis. Published by Elsevier España. All rights reserved.)

The European Guidelines on Dyslipidaemias (2011) and Cardiovascular Prevention (2012) have incorporated important changes. Firstly, it highlights the identification of a group of "very high risk" patients: patients with atherosclerotic disease in any vascular area, diabetes with associated risk factors, advanced chronic renal failure, or a SCORE estimate >10%. Patients with diabetes and no other risk factors, moderate renal failure, severe hypertension, genetic dyslipidaemias, or a SCORE estimate 5-10%, are considered as "high risk". The HDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels are considered as modulators of risks, but not therapeutic objectives per se. The therapeutic objectives are set at LDL cholesterol levels < 70 mg/dl (or at least a reduction of at least 50%) for patients at very high risk, and an LDL < 100 mg/dl for high risk patients. As well as the changes in lifestyle, pharmacological treatment with statins is the focal point of lipid lowering treatments. Other pharmacological options may be considered if the treatment with the maximum tolerable doses of statins do not achieve the therapeutic objectives., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. y SEA. All rights reserved.)