Welcome

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) encompasses coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease and peripheral artery disease. There have been many advances in the identification of ASCVD risk factors and expanded options for lipid-lowering treatments in recent decades, but ASCVD is still a major contributor to global CVD-related burden^1,2 and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality³, particularly from premature events².

This Learning Zone covers: 

• The current state of knowledge on risk factors and risk assessment for ASCVD, and the role of lipids in the pathogenesis of ASCVD
• Lipid-lowering treatments with novel mechanisms of action, including those that target PCSK9, ANGPTL3, and apoC3, or inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis, and how these additional treatment options may help to address unmet needs in those with difficult-to-treat hypercholesterolaemia
• Evidence supporting treatment target recommendations for lipid-lowering therapies, with a focus on European guidelines, and a brief overview of conversations in the field on the safety of treatment targets, whether ‘lower is better’, and if ‘earlier is better’
• Uncertainties and unmet needs that impede optimal lipid-lowering and CVD risk management in clinical practice, and how recent additions to the current lipid-lowering arsenal may address unmet needs for those at risk or with established ASCVD

This Learning Zone is intended for healthcare professionals outside the USA. For guidance on the management of ASCVD in the USA, refer to the most recent US guidelines.

References

1. Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, Koskinas KC, Casula M, Badimon L, et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular risk. Eur Heart J. 2020;41(1):111-188.
2. Timmis A, Vardas P, Townsend N, Torbica A, Katus H, De Smedt D, et al. European Society of Cardiology: cardiovascular disease statistics 2021. Eur Heart J. 2022;43(8):716-799.
3. Visseren FLJ, Mach F, Smulders YM, Carballo D, Koskinas KC, Bäck M, et al. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice: Developed by the Task Force for cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice with representatives of the European Society of Cardiology and 12 medical societies With the special contribution of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC). Eur Heart J. 2021;42(34):3227-3337.