Medical advancements refine statin prescription and cholesterol management

Medical experts and recent clinical research are highlighting new approaches to managing cholesterol and determining the necessity of statin treatments. Cardiologist Jorge Tartaglione notes that while diet and exercise are essential allies, they are often insufficient for many patients because approximately 70% of cholesterol is produced internally by the liver rather than from food.

Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver to reduce cholesterol synthesis, which helps lower LDL levels and decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. To improve how doctors decide who needs this medication, the CorCal Outcomes clinical trial, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, tested a new strategy. The study, involving 5,772 participants in the United States, compared traditional risk calculation methods against the use of CT scans to detect calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This imaging approach allows doctors to identify atherosclerosis directly rather than relying solely on traditional risk factors like blood pressure, smoking, or diabetes.