National guidelines at a glance: hypercholesterolaemia

Abstract

A working group of the South African Medical Association and Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society of Southern Africa published, in 2000, a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and prevention of the common dyslipidaemias in South Africa.¹ This guideline incorporates advances in both the diagnostic approach to, and drug therapy of, dyslipidaemias since the previously published guideline in 1986. European guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in clinical practice were published in 2003 by the Third Joint Task Force of European and other societies.² The major focus of these guidelines is on the prevention of morbidity from CVD disease, and premature death, with dyslipidaemia being the key target of intervention. These guidelines have been officially adopted by the South African Heart Association.³ Health resources are limited in South Africa, therefore therapy has to be prioritised to those at highest risk; this approach is emphasised in the European guidelines. Recently, guidelines have been published on the management of hypercholesterolaemia in children and young adults. Risk factor modification early in life, particularly through dietary intervention, is emphasised.⁴