[Combination therapy for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: primary and secondary prevention].

Abstract

The reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is the cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases management, both in primary and secondary prevention. The use of more lipid-lowering agents represents an effective and safe option to reduce LDL-C with the advantage of a better adherence to treatment compared to the use of higher statin dosages as monotherapy. This review focuses on therapeutic targets as recommended in different clinical settings in primary and secondary prevention, and analyzes evidence on the statin/ezetimibe combination use in primary prevention. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of rosuvastain/ezetimibe combination in secondary prevention and report available data on LDL-C reduction and on the effects on atherosclerotic plaques and clinical events.