Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality even in Japan, and a high concentration of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a major risk factor for CAD. Current guidelines recommend the use of statins to lower LDL cholesterol levels for the primary and secondary prevention of CAD based on an individual's risk factor profile and baseline LDL cholesterol level. Recent studies have reported the clinical benefits of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease. This review discusses the evidence supporting an aggressive treatment for high levels of LDL cholesterol even in Japanese form the view of “pro” standpoint.
