ABSTRACT
It is important to have a basic understanding of the physiology of lipids and how treatments are used to lower cholesterol. Managing hyperlipidaemia requires an understanding of: lipid physiology, the patient's absolute coronary risk, the importance of lipid lowering in primary and secondary prevention, and lipid-lowering drugs and their adverse effects. Treating hyperlipidaemia and hypertension both require similar professional skills and a comprehensive appreciation of cardiovascular risk in different patient groups. Effective primary and secondary prevention requires the patient to take responsibility for their health but even with enthusiastic education and encouragement, it is unrealistic to expect all patients to maintain compliance in the long term. The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level accounts almost entirely for the positive correlation between cholesterol and coronary heart disease. A high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) level is protective, probably by reversing cholesterol transport away from the vessel wall and transporting it to the liver.
