New cholesterol guidelines and the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease — A commentary on epistemic aspects

Abstract

The recommendations contained in the 2013 cholesterol guidelines may be described as either with or without a direct empirical clinical trial basis. Recommendations without a direct empirical clinical trial basis tend to be controversial. Recommendations with and without a direct empirical clinical trial basis are mixed in the same text — while at the same time (rightfully) rejecting previous recommendations, also without a direct empirical clinical trial basis.