Special Considerations for Lipid-Lowering Therapy in Women Reflecting Recent Randomized Trials.

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women across all racial and ethnic groups within the USA. Despite robust evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrating that treatment of hypercholesterolemia in women reduces cardiovascular events, women who are eligible for lipid-lowering therapy are less likely than men to be prescribed guideline-recommended therapy or to have therapy prescribed at the appropriate intensity. Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials. Recent randomized clinical trials have shown that women derive similar benefits as men when treated with lipid-lowering therapy, and recent studies demonstrate potential uses for lipid-lowering therapies that extend beyond their previously well-established indications. In this review, we will discuss lipid-lowering therapies in the context of recent clinical trials with a focus on special considerations in women.