Drugs for Hyperlipidaemia

Question 1

What is CHD correlated with, in terms of cholesterol?

Answer 1

• High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides
• Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol

Question 2

Other than hyperlipidaemia, what are the risk factors for CHD?

Answer 2

• Smoking
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Diabetes

Question 3

Why might cholesterol levels be elevated in a patient?

Answer 3

• Lifestyle factors, for example lack of exercise, or diet containing excess saturated fats
• Inherited defect in lipoprotein metabolism

Most commonly a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors

Question 4

By how much can appropriate lifestyle changes, along with drug therapy, reduce CHD mortality?

Answer 4

30-40%

Question 5

What do plasma lipids consist of?

Answer 5

Mostly lipoproteins

Question 6

What are lipoproteins?

Answer 6

Spherical complexes of lipids and specific proteins (apolipoproteins)

Question 7

What is the primary goal in cholesterol-lowering therapy?

Answer 7

Reduction in LDL-C

Question 8

What are the guidelines regarding targets for cholesterol-lowering therapy?

Answer 8

Recent cholesterol guidelines do not recommend targets, but rather emphasise high-intensity or moderate-intensity statin therapy in defiend populations with risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Question 9

In whom is higher-intensity cholesterol-lowering therapy recommended in?

Answer 9

Those with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or in those with higher overall risk of cardiovascular disease