The 2004 guidelines of NCEP reinforce the significance of maintaining cholesterol level in patients above the age of 65 years. These guidelines also re-emphasized that LDL cholesterol was the most important factor which help to control cardiovascular risk.
Let us see some of the key points of 2004 NCEP cholesterol treatment guidelines:
- The suggested LDL-cholesterol level target remains below 100 mg/dL for most high-risk patients such as people with coronary heart disease or a CHD.
- A new, possible target of below 70 mg/dL has been suggested for patients held to be at very high risk of CHD or patients with diabetes or the metabolic syndrome, and also in the case of people who has current acute coronary syndrome result.
- Pharmacological treatment is now advised for patients who are at high-risk of very high LDL levels such as above100 mg/dL and these patients also advised to change their lifestyle.
- Pharmacologic treatment is also recommended for patients who are at moderate-risk of high LDL level, that is equal or above130 mg/dL.
- The new 2004 NCEP cholesterol treatment guidelines emphasize the importance of maintaining proper cholesterol levels among old people.
The new guidelines also discuss about importance of lifting HDL levels without advocating any specific targets and rules. |