The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines on the treatment of cholesterol recommend therapy for patients with (1) known cardiovascular disease (CVD); (2) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of 190 mg/dL or higher; (3) type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus and LDL-C between 70 mg/dL and 189 mg/dL (for ages 40-75); and 4) LDL-C between 70 mg/dL and 189 mg/dL and an estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk ≥7.5% (for ages 40-75), using their new risk calculator. Although statin therapy is indicated for women at elevated risk of CVD, safety concerns related to glucose elevations and myalgias may outweigh benefits for women at low absolute risk of CVD.
