Treatment Options for High Cardiometabolic Risk Patients with Atherosclerosis

Abstract

In 2020, coronary artery disease (CAD) affected over 20 million people and resulted in 382,820 deaths in the United States. Heart disease such as CAD and its precursor atherosclerosis have severe consequences such as limiting the amount of blood flow and reducing the flow of vital elements like oxygen to vital tissues and organs like the heart. Elderly adults, obese patients, patients with diabetes, and those with a genetic predisposition of increased Low-Density Lipids (LDLs), are at higher risk of developing atherosclerosis. This paper examines treatment options for atherosclerosis in people with high cardiometabolic risk and discusses their efficacy as well as their associated risks and benefits. First-line therapy includes medication such as statins, ACE Inhibitors, or diuretics along with appropriate lifestyle adjustments. If unsuccessful, second-line interventions offer increased risk reduction in patients with established coronary vascular disease and reduce the probability of recurrence of an acute cardiac event. This calls for the use of medication with higher risks such as beta blockers and anti-thrombotics and even surgical procedures such as bypass and angioplasties. Regardless of the patient’s condition, the first recommendation for preventing and managing atherosclerosis is lifestyle adjustment. Medications offer benefits but with varying levels of side effects. Thus, it is important to look at the specific conditions of each patient to find the most suitable medication. This paper looked at the existing magnitude of treatments for atherosclerosis and summarised which ones are best for patients with different conditions that put them at high risk for developing atherosclerosis.