Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of

Elevated levels of serum total choles-terol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are major risk fac-tors and contributors to the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart dis-ease (CHD).1 CHD is a leading cause of death throughout the world; the World Health Organization estimates that car-diovascular diseases are responsible for 30 % of all deaths, or approximately 17.5 million people.2 Currently, hydrox-ymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the preferred phar-macologic agents for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia due to their superi-or efficacy in lowering LDL-C, proven ability to reduce CHD morbidity and mortality, and a low incidence of advers