Abstract

The concentrations of lipids in the blood correlate with the risk of developing and dying from illness associated with atheroma such as coronary heart disease (CHD). However, many other factors also affect such risk. So, while therapy that lowers lipid levels can improve outcome, this cannot necessarily be expected for all people treated. At the same time, many individuals who would probably be helped by lipid-lowering treatment do not receive it.1 Here we discuss the relationship between blood lipid concentrations and CHD, and management strategies for hyperlipidaemia, concentrating on primary and secondary prevention of CHD in adults.