How Early, How Low and How Long?
MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, FESC
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School,
Chairman – TIMI Study Group,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
MD, DM, FESC, FHFA, FCSI
Senior Director – Clinical Cardiology, Heart Failure and Research, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi Founding President and
Member of the Board of Governors –
Heart Failure Association of India
Mumbai
MD, DM, FACC Director of Cardiology Holy Family Hospital
Kolkata
MD, DM, FRCP (Edin, UK), FESC Past President, Cardiological Society of India (CSI)
Bangalore
Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist MD, DNB (Cardiology)
Delhi
MD, DM, DNB,
Fellowship EP (USA)
Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Sri Gangaram Hospital
Dyslipidemia remains a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This scientific programme will explore contemporary approaches to lipid management, with a focus on early intervention, achieving appropriate LDL-C targets and sustaining long-term cardiovascular protection.
Initiate appropriate lipid-lowering strategies at the right time.
Understand the importance of achieving appropriate LDL-C goals.
Focus on sustained lipid management for lasting cardiovascular protection.
Use the three questions as three large cards:
Identify cardiovascular risk early
Assess LDL-C and overall cardiovascular risk to determine the need for lipid-lowering intervention.
Act early when indicated
Early initiation and appropriate intensification of LDL-C-lowering therapy can help reduce cardiovascular risk. In patients with acute coronary syndrome, the 2025 ESC/EAS update recommends intensifying lipid-lowering therapy during the index hospitalisation.
Treat according to individual risk
The intensity of lipid-lowering treatment should be guided by the patient's baseline LDL-C, cardiovascular risk, and LDL-C goal.
What LDL-C levels should we aim for?
Lower is better for high-risk patients LDL-C should be reduced according to the patient’s cardiovascular risk. More intensive LDL-C lowering provides greater protection against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Aim for risk-based LDL-C goals The 2025 ESC/EAS Focused Update recommends achieving lower LDL-C targets in patients at higher cardiovascular risk, with treatment individualized to the patient’s risk category.
How long should intensive lipid management continue?
Maintain LDL-C control long term
Lipid-lowering therapy is generally a long-term strategy. Maintaining LDL-C at the recommended level is important for ongoing cardiovascular risk reduction.
Sustain treatment to maintain benefit
Treatment should be continued and adjusted as needed to maintain the recommended LDL-C goal. If goals are not achieved with the maximum tolerated statin dose, additional lipid-lowering therapies with proven cardiovascular benefit can be considered.
Monitor and intensify when needed
Regular assessment of LDL-C and treatment response can help identify when therapy needs to be intensified or modified, supporting sustained lipid control over time.
LDL-C management is a long-term commitment.
Maintain LDL-C at the recommended goal through sustained lifestyle measures and appropriate lipid-lowering therapy, with regular follow-up.
