Treatment with drugs to lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol based on an individual's absolute cardiovascular risk

In this review, we outline the rationale for targeting blood pressure and blood cholesterol lowering drug treatments to patients at high absolute cardiovascular risk, irrespective of their blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels. Because the specific levels of blood pressure and cholesterol are o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2005-01, Vol.365 (9457), p.434-441
Main Authors: JACKSON, Rod, LAWES, Carlene M. M, BENNETT, Derrick A, MILNE, Richard J, RODGERS, Anthony
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research)
Biological and medical sciences
Blood and lymphatic vessels
Blood Pressure
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology
Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control
Cholesterol - blood
Female
General aspects
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia - complications
Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy
Hypertension - complications
Hypertension - drug therapy
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
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Summary:In this review, we outline the rationale for targeting blood pressure and blood cholesterol lowering drug treatments to patients at high absolute cardiovascular risk, irrespective of their blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels. Because the specific levels of blood pressure and cholesterol are of little clinical relevance when considered in isolation from other risk factors, terms such as hypertension or hypercholesterolaemia have limited value. Separate management guidelines for raised blood pressure and blood cholesterol need to be replaced by integrated cardiovascular risk management guidelines, and absolute cardiovascular risk prediction scores should be used routinely. Since cardiovascular risk factors interact with each other, moderate reductions in several risk factors can be more effective than major reductions in one. An affordable daily pill combining low doses of various drugs could be useful for the many individuals with slightly abnormal cardiovascular risk factors.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(05)70240-3