Individuals in the denominator who had an LDL-cholesterol level lower than or equal to 70 mg/dl or individual who purchased at least three prescriptions for high-potency statins in the previous year in whom the last LDL-cholesterol level was lower than or equal to 100 mg/dL
Individuals 35-80 years old who had CABG (coronary artery bypass) surgery and/or angioplasty in the previous ten years and had at least one cholesterol-level test in the measurement year
Bypass surgery and therapeutic cardiac catheterization are invasive procedures performed on patients with advanced coronary artery disease. These patients are at high risk for recurrent cardiac events. Since high blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for worsening atherosclerosis, appropriate ongoing care should include tertiary prevention, which involves medication to control cholesterol levels (1). Statins are the most commonly used drugs to lower LDL cholesterol. According to accepted medical guidelines, all heart disease patients who undergo invasive treatment should receive cholesterol-lowering therapy (2). Additionally, Israeli medical associations recommend an LDL cholesterol target below 70 mg/dL for patients with heart disease (3).
1. Silverman MG, Ference BA, Im K, Wiviott SD, Giugliano RP, Grundy SM, et al. Association between lowering LDL-C and cardiovascular risk reduction among different therapeutic interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA – J Am Med Assoc. 2016 Sep 27;316(12):1289–97.
2. Mach F, Baigent C, Catapano AL, Koskinas KC, Casula M, Badimon L, et al. 2019 ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: lipid modification to reduce cardiovascular riskThe Task Force for the management of dyslipidaemias of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS). Eur Heart J [Internet]. 2020 Jan 1 [cited 2023 Feb 8];41(1):111–88. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/41/1/111/5556353
3. החברה לחקר מניעה וטיפול בטרשת עורקים|האיגוד הקרדיולוגי בישראל. עדכון ההנחיות לטיפול בהיפרליפידמיה. ישראל; 2017.
