Table 1. The Taiwan National Health Insurance reimbursement policy for lipid-lowering treatments in 2008.

	LDL-C goal or TC goal	Pharmacological treatment*
CHD or CHD risk equivalents#	LDL-C ≤ 100 mg/dL	LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL‡
	TC < 160 mg/dL	TC ≥ 200 mg/dL‡
≥ 2 risk factors, 10-year risk > 20%†	LDL-C < 130 mg/dL	LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL§
	TC < 200 mg/dL	TC ≥ 200 mg/dL§
≥ 2 risk factors, 10-year risk 10-20%†	LDL-C < 130 mg/dL	LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL§
	TC < 200 mg/dL	TC ≥ 200 mg/dL§
≥ 2 risk factors, 10-year risk < 10%†	LDL-C < 130 mg/dL	LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL§
	TC < 200 mg/dL	TC ≥ 200 mg/dL§
0-1 risk factor†	LDL-C < 160 mg/dL	LDL-C ≥ 160 mg/dL§
	TC < 240 mg/dL	TC ≥ 240 mg/dL§

* Down-titration of lipid-lowering drugs once patients are at the therapeutic goals is mandated. ^# Abdominal aortic aneurysm, > 50% carotid stenosis without previous stroke, and asymptomatic peripheral artery disease are not included; brain hemorrhage is included. ^† Risk factors do not include low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. ^‡ A lipid-lowering drug is indicated simultaneously with therapeutic lifestyle modification. ^§ A lipid-lowering drug is indicated after therapeutic lifestyle modification fails.

CHD, coronary heart disease; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC, total cholesterol.