Summary

Hypercholesterolemia, particularly an increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is associated with elevated cardiovascular (CV) risk. Individuals with genetic lifelong lower levels of LDL-C are associated with a reduced risk of CV events. In addition, the reduction in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk is proportional to the decrease in LDL-C over the time period of LDL-C reduction. Statins are often used to therapeutically lower LDL-C levels, but individuals with lifelong lower LDL-C levels due to genetic variants have three times the protection from CHD as do those who begin statin therapy later in life.