Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Dec 14.
Published in final edited form as: Circulation. 2019 Mar 17;140(11):e596–e646. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000678

Recommendations for Adults With High Blood Cholesterol.

Referenced studies that support recommendations are summarized in Online Data Supplements 11 and 12.

COR LOE Recommendations
I A 1. In adults at intermediate risk (≥7.5% to <20% 10-year ASCVD risk), statin therapy reduces risk of ASCVD, and in the context of a risk discussion, if a decision is made for statin therapy, a moderate-intensity statin should be recommended.S4.3-2S4.3-9
Adapted from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
I A 2. In intermediate risk (≥7.5% to <20% 10-year ASCVD risk) patients, LDL-C levels should be reduced by 30% or more, and for optimal ASCVD risk reduction, especially in patients at high risk (≥20% 10-year ASCVD risk), levels should be reduced by 50% or more.S4.3-2,S4.3-5S4.3-10
Adapted from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
I A 3. In adults 40 to 75 years of age with diabetes, regardless of estimated 10-year ASCVD risk, moderate-intensity statin therapy is indicated.S4.3-11S4.3-19
Included from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
I B-R 4. In patients 20 to 75 years of age with an LDL-C level of 190 mg/dL (≥4.9 mmol/L) or higher, maximally tolerated statin therapy is recommended.S4.3-2,S4.3-20S4.3-25
Included from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
IIa B-R 5. In adults with diabetes mellitus who have multiple ASCVD risk factors, it is reasonable to prescribe high-intensity statin therapy with the aim to reduce LDL-C levels by 50% or more.S4.3-2,S4.3-7
Included from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
IIa B-R 6. In intermediate-risk (≥7.5% to <20% 10-year ASCVD risk) adults, risk-enhancing factors favor initiation or intensification of statin therapy.S4.3-7,S4.3-26S4.3-33
Adapted from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
IIa B-NR 7. In intermediate-risk (≥7.5% to <20% 10-year ASCVD risk) adults or selected borderline-risk (5% to <7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk) adults in whom a coronary artery calcium score is measured for the purpose of making a treatment decision, AND
 If the coronary artery calcium score is zero, it is reasonable to withhold statin therapy and reassess in 5 to 10 years, as long as higher-risk conditions are absent (eg, diabetes, family history of premature CHD, cigarette smoking);
 If coronary artery calcium score is 1 to 99, it is reasonable to initiate statin therapy for patients ≥55 years of age;
 If coronary artery calcium score is 100 or higher or in the 75th percentile or higher, it is reasonable to initiate statin therapy.S4.3-28,S4.3-34
Adapted from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1
IIb B-R 8. In patients at borderline risk (5% to <7.5% 10-year ASCVD risk), in risk discussion, the presence of risk-enhancing factors may justify initiation of moderate-intensity statin therapy.S4.3-28,S4.3-35
Adapted from recommendations in the 2018 Cholesterol Clinical Practice Guidelines.S4.3-1