Lipid Abnormalities in Women

Abstract

In multiple randomized, controlled clinical trials, statin treatment of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women at increased risk of or with coronary heart disease decreased the risk of coronary events: coronary death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and myocardial revascularization procedures. Total mortality was unchanged, potentially reflecting the underrepresentation of women in these trials and consequent small number of fatal events. Statin therapy provided comparable benefit for women and men with acute coronary syndromes. Application of lipid-lowering therapy with statin drugs is currently underutilized in women, and represents an opportunity to improve clinical cardiovascular outcomes for women.