Cholesterol Management in Motion: Applying New Evidence to Practice

Course overview

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and elevated atherogenic lipoproteins are among its most modifiable drivers. This course explains the 2026 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia and how it changes everyday lipid care: it reframes treatment as a lifelong effort based on cumulative LDL exposure rather than a single number, broadens the focus from LDL cholesterol to the full burden of atherogenic particles, and restores numeric LDL-C and non-HDL-C goals tied to a patient's risk tier. It also replaces the Pooled Cohort Equations with the PREVENT model, clarifies the selective use of apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), and coronary artery calcium, and supports earlier combination therapy alongside a structured approach to statin intolerance. By the end of the course, clinicians will be able to put this updated framework into practice, from initial risk assessment through individualized treatment of patients who fall outside the standard pathway. This is the first comprehensive ACC/AHA lipid update since 2018, and several of its changes - retiring the Pooled Cohort Equations, the return of numeric goals, the selective roles of apoB and Lp(a), and the frequent overlabeling of statin intolerance - have left many clinicians uncertain about current practice. The course addresses these gaps so clinicians can apply the new recommendations confidently and consistently. Patient cases in this course are composite and fictional; any resemblance to real individuals is coincidental.