Pillar 3: Clinical Care and Smart Medication Strategies

When lifestyle modifications fall short of reaching targeted lipid goals, evidence-based pharmacological treatments offer life-saving protection. Under 2026 guidelines, statin therapy is considered for individuals with a 10-year PREVENT risk score of 3 percent to under 5 percent when risk enhancers exist, and recommended for a 10-year risk of 5 to 10 percent or higher.

Modern preventative cardiology offers several effective tools beyond standard statins. Non-statin treatments, including ezetimibe—which blocks intestinal cholesterol absorption—and PCSK9 inhibitors, provide powerful options for adults who experience statin side effects or require additional LDL-C lowering to reach strict targets below 55 mg/dL.