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This article discusses the results of six randomized trials that examined the effects of fibrates and gemfibrozil on the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The trials showed inconsistent results, and the authors sought to understand these discrepancies by examining the effects of mass changes in remnant cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Using the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS) to mimic the study population of these trials, the authors compared estimated changes in ASCVD risk through mass changes in cholesterol with the observed changes in the original trials. The results suggest that mass changes in total atherogenic cholesterol can explain the results of these trials, regardless of whether statins were used or not. The authors conclude that to reduce ASCVD, cholesterol-lowering agents should aim to reduce the total mass of atherogenic cholesterol. [Extracted from the article]

Said differently, LDL cholesterol cannot be too low after a myocardial infarction and all patients with a myocardial infarction should receive LDL cholesterol-lowering medication post myocardial infarction irrespective of their LDL cholesterol levels at the time of the infarct. Just as age - these comorbidities increase the risk of dying during follow-up for patients with low LDL cholesterol at myocardial infarction compared with those with high LDL cholesterol at myocardial infarction. Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a causal risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and drives an increased risk of both myocardial infarction and early death. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: For decades, it has been suggested that small dense low‐density lipoprotein (sdLDL) may be particularly atherogenic. High levels of sdLDL are associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease; however, the association of sdLDL with ischemic stroke has not been explored in a large prospective study on the general population. We tested the hypothesis that high sdLDL cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: This prospective study included 38,319 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study with fresh sample measurements of sdLDL cholesterol. Median follow‐up time was 3.1 years. We observed 302 and 74 ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes from baseline in 2013 to 2017 to the end of follow‐up in 2018. For comparison, we included estimates for large buoyant LDL cholesterol and total LDL cholesterol. Results: Higher levels of sdLDL cholesterol were log‐linearly associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. Compared with individuals with sdLDL cholesterol in the lowest tertile (≤0.60 mmol/l; ≤23 mg/dl) the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for ischemic stroke was 1.79 (95% confidence interval = 1.31–2.43) for the highest tertile (≥0.86 mmol/l; ≥33 mg/dl). Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for ischemic stroke per 1 mmol/l (38.7 mg/dl) higher levels were 1.69 (1.28–2.22) for sdLDL cholesterol, 0.95 (0.78–1.16) for large buoyant LDL cholesterol, and 1.08 (0.93–1.25) for total LDL cholesterol. Hazard ratios were similar when further adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and diabetes mellitus in the biological pathway in combination with related lipids and lipoproteins. Interpretation: Higher sdLDL cholesterol levels were robustly associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:952–964 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]