Strict control of atherogenic cholesterol and cardiovascular disease prevention

The role of cholesterol associated to low density lipoproteins (LDL) as a causal agent of arteriosclerosis is scientifically consolidated. A number of seminal clinical trials of the highest scientific quality (randomized, controlled, double-blind versus placebo) in the last 40 years have confirmed that lipid lowering therapy with progressively ambitious therapeutic goals is associated with reductions in cardiovascular complications in the absence of major side effects at least up to the range of 30mg/dL of LDL cholesterol. Drugs that have demonstrated these effects act by reducing circulating LDL cholesterol by upregulating the LDL receptor, independently of their primary action: inhibition of synthesis (statins, bempedoic acid), or absorption of cholesterol (ezetimibe) and promoting recycling of the LDL receptor via proprotein conversin subtilisine kexin 9 blockade. The early reduction of LDL cholesterol and its maintenance over time reinforce the protective effect of these drugs. Additional efforts are needed to improve the LDL control of high-risk patients to reduce their cardiovascular complications. (c) 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. on behalf of Sociedad Espanola de Arteriosclerosis. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).