ESC/EAS 2019 International Guidelines

Recommendations

Classa

Levelb

CVD risk estimation

Total risk estimation using a risk estimation system such as SCORE is recommended for asymptomatic adults aged >40 years without evidence of CVD, DMCKD, FH, or LDL >4.9 mmol/L (>190 mg/dL).

I

C

High- and very-high-risk individuals may be identified on the basis of documented CVD, DM, moderate-to-severe renal disease, very high levels of individual risk factors, FH, or a high SCORE risk, and are a priority for advice and management of all risk factors.

I

C

Risk scores developed for the general population are not recommended for CV risk assessment in patients with DM or FH.

III

C

Lipid analyses for CVD risk estimation

TC is to be used for the estimation of total CV risk by means of the SCORE system.

I

C

HDL-C analysis is recommended to further refine risk estimation using the online SCORE system.

I

C

LDL-C analysis is recommended as the primary lipid analysis method for screening, diagnosis, and management.

I

C

TG analysis is recommended as a part of the routine lipid analysis approach.

I

C

Non-HDL-C evaluation is recommended for risk assessment, particularly in people with high TG levels, DM, obesity, or very low LDL-C levels.

I

C

ApoB analysis is recommended for risk assessment, particularly in people with high TG levels, DM, obesity, or MetS, or very low LDL-C levels. It can be used as an alternative to LDL-C, if available, as the primary measurement for screening, diagnosis, and management, and may be preferred over non-HDL-C in people with high TG levels, DM, obesity, or very low LDL-C levels.

I

C

Treatment goals for LDL-C

In secondary prevention for patients at very-high risk,anLDL-Creduction of>_50% from baseline and an LDL-C goal of <1.4 mmol/L(<55 mg/dL) are recommended.

I

A

In primary prevention for individuals at very-high risk, an LDL-C reduction of>_50% from baseline and an LDL-C goal of <1.4 mmol/L(<55 mg/dL) are recommended.

I

C

In patients at high risk, an LDL-C reduction of >_50% from baseline and an LDL-C goal of <1.8 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL) are recommended.

I

A

Pharmacological LDL-C lowering

It is recommended that a high-intensity statin is prescribed up to the highest tolerated dose to reach the goals set for the specific level of risk.

I

A

If the goals are not achieved with the maximum tolerated dose of a statin, combination with ezetimibe is recommended.

I

B

For secondary prevention in patients at very-high risk not achieving their goal on a maximum tolerated dose of a statin and ezetimibe, a combination with a PCSK9 inhibitor is recommended.

I

A

For very-high-risk FH patients (that is, with ASCVD or with another major risk factor) who do not achieve their goal on a maximum tolerated dose of a statin and ezetimibe, a combination with a PCSK9 inhibitor is recommended.

I

C

Drug treatment of patients with HTG

Statin treatment is recommended as the first drug of choice for reducing CVD risk in high-risk individuals with HTG [TGs >2.3 mmol/L(>200mg/dL)].

I

B

Management of patients with HeFH

It is recommended that a diagnosis of FH is considered in patients with CHD aged<55 years for men and <60 years for women, in people with relatives with premature fatal or non-fatal CVD, in people with relatives having tendon xanthomas, in people with severely elevated LDL-C levels [in adults >5 mmol/L (>190 mg/dL), in children >4 mmol/L (>150 mg/dL)], and in first-degree relatives of FH patients.

I

C

It is recommended that FH is diagnosed using clinical criteria and confirmed, when possible, with DNA analysis.

I

C

Once the index case is diagnosed, family cascade screening is recommended.

I

C

It is recommended that FH patients with ASCVD or who have another major risk factor are treated as very-high-risk, and those with no prior ASCVD or other risk factors as high-risk.

I

C

For FH patients with ASCVD who are at very-high risk, treatment to achieve a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline and an LDL-C <1.4mmol/L (<55mg/dL)is recommended. If goals cannot be achieved, a drug combination is recommended.

I

C

Treatment with a PCSK9inhibitor is recommended in very-high risk FH patients if the treatment goal is not achieved on a maximal tolerated statin plus ezetimibe.

I

C

In children, testing for FH is recommended from the age of 5 years, or earlier if HoFH is suspected.

I

C

Treatment of dyslipidaemias in older people

Treatment with statins is recommended for older people with ASCVD in the same way as for younger patients.

I

A

Treatment with statins is recommended for primary prevention, according to the level of risk, in older people aged ≤ 75 years.

I

A

It is recommended that the statin is started at a low dose if there is significant renal impairment and/or the potential for drug interactions, and then titrated upwards to achieve LDL-C treatment goals.

I

C

Treatment of dyslipidaemias in DM

In patients with T2DM at very-high risk, an LDL-C reduction of ≥ 50% from baseline and an LDL-C goal of <1.4 mmol/L (<55 mg/dL) is recommended.

I

A

In patients with T2DM at high risk, an LDL-C reduction of ≥ 50% from baseline and an LDL-C goal of <1.8 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL) is recommended.

I

A

Statins are recommended in patients with T1DM who are at high or very-high risk.

I

A

Statin therapy is not recommended in pre-menopausal patients with or without DM who are considering pregnancy, or not using adequate contraception.

III

C

Management of patients with ACS

In all ACS patients without any contraindication or definite history of intolerance, it is recommended that high-dose statin therapy is initiated or continued as early as possible, regardless of initial LDL-C values.

I

A

If the LDL-C goal is not achieved after 4-6 weeks with the maximally tolerated statin dose, combination with ezetimibe is recommended.

I

B

If the LDL-C goal is not achieved after 4-6 weeks with the maximally tolerated statin dose, combination with ezetimibe is recommended.

I

B

Lipid-lowering therapy for prevention of ASCVD events in patients with prior ischaemic stroke

Patients with a history of ischaemic stroke or TIA are at very-high risk of ASCVD, particularly recurrent ischaemic stroke, so it is recommended that they receive intensive LDL-C-lowering therapy.

I

A

Treatment of dyslipidaemias in chronic HF or valvular heart diseases

Initiation of lipid-lowering therapy is not recommended in patients with HF in the absence of other indications for their use.

III

A

Initiation of lipid-lowering treatment is not recommended in patients with aortic valvular stenosis without CAD to slow progression of aortic valve stenosis in the absence of other indications for their use.

III

A

Lipid management in patients with moderate-to-severe (Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative stages 3-5) CKD

It is recommended that patients with stage 3-5 CKD are considered to be at high or very-high risk of ASCVD.

I

A

The use of statins or statin/ezetimibe-combination is recommended in patients with non-dialysis-dependent stage 3-5 CKD.

I

A

In patients with dialysis-dependent CKD who are free of ASCVD, commencement of statin therapy is not recommended.

III

A

Lipid-lowering drugs in patients with PAD(including carotid artery disease)

In patients with PAD, lipid-lowering therapy—including a maximum tolerated dose of a statin, plus ezetimibe, or a combination with a PCSK9 inhibitor if needed—is recommended to reduce the risk of ASCVD events.

I

A

Lipid-lowering drugs in patients with CIID

The use of lipid-lowering drugs only on the basis of the presence of CIID is not recommended.

III

C

Lipid-lowering drugs in patients with SMI

It is recommended that SMIs are used as modifiers for estimating total ASCVD risk.

I

C

It is recommended that the same guidelines for the management of total ASCVD risk are used in patients with SMI as are used in patients without such disease.

I

C

It is recommended that in patients with SMI, intensified attention is paid to adherence to lifestyle changes and to compliance with drug treatment.

I

C