VIDEO: Moderate LDL, SBP reductions slash cardiovascular events 90% over time
08/29/16
ROME – Combined exposure to low LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure is associated with multiplicative and cumulative effects over time, Brian A. Ference, MD, said in a video interview at the annual congress of the European Society of Cardiology.
Indeed, long-term exposure to a combined 1-mmol/L lower LDL cholesterol and 10-mm Hg lower systolic BP was associated with up to a 90% lower risk of major cardiovascular events in the “naturally randomized” study he presented. The investigators used the 102,000 participants’ genetic LDL and BP scores in a Mendelian design.
If these lower LDL and blood pressure levels are sustained over decades, “those cumulative effects multiply, resulting in potentially dramatic reductions in the lifetime risk of cardiovascular events from even modestly lower levels of LDL and systolic blood pressure,” Dr. Ference of Wayne State University, Detroit, told reporter Bruce Jancin.
This dramatic reduction in CV events by controlling systolic BP and reducing LDL level at the same time
is not surprising. The reduction is becoming compounded dramatically over long period of time.
It is well known and accepted fact that the systolic hypertension and high LDL level damage
the all-important endothelium and initiate arteriosclerosis.
I believe there is a synergistic effect between systolic hypertension and LDL in causing arteriosclerosis.
Many years ago it was recommended by most cardiologists that almost every hypertensive patient being treated
ought to be put on statins automatically regardless what the LDL level is.
We know now to a large extent that the recommendation was a good one.
I believe the timing for medical intervention is critical as is in any disease process.
Obviously I believe it is the earlier, the better as far as preventing the cardiovascular event in a given case.