[LDL-Lowering Drugs: What Are the Options In 2023?]

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. There is a dose-dependent relationship between the absolute extent of exposure of the vascular system to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Meta-analyses confirm the beneficial effects of LDL reduction. In addition to lifestyle modifications, which remain the cornerstone of primary and secondary prevention, it is pharmacologically possible to lower plasma LDL levels. This article highlights where we stand with lipid-lowering drugs, more than 30 years after the first statins were used therapeutically.