The American Heart Association (AHA) has announced the discontinuation of the 2018 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Clinicians should now follow the 2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia, according to the AHA.
The new document covers “atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk associated with atherogenic lipoproteins beyond low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), including triglyceride-rich remnant particles and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)].”
Additionally, it emphasizes:
- Utilizing the American Heart Association PREVENT-ASCVD equations for clinical decision-making regarding primary-prevention lipid-lowering therapy.
- Screening patients for Lp(a) at least once and then measure selective apolipoprotein B (ApoB) to evaluate risk and aid treatment decisions.
- The re-emergence of “LDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) treatment goals.” Patients at high risk should have lower targets.
- The broader “use of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring to reclassify risk.”
Suggestions were derived from clinical evidence as late as 2024.
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