Dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease.

Atherosclerotic vascular diseases are expected to remain the major cause of mortality and morbidity globally well into the 21st century. Preventive measures by lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, prevention of obesity and diabetes) will play an important role in retarding the onset of these diseases. A strategy aimed at identifying high risk individuals - those with established coronary artery disease or other vascular diseases - will provide the most cost effective means of preventing cardiovascular events. The high risk strategy is aimed at identification of healthy subjects with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, identification of those with diabetes, identification of those with genetic lipoprotein disorders and initiation of treatment with medications if necessary. Categorical risk factors should be treated because of the lifetime increase in cardiovascular risk.