Avances en el control lipídico, de la teoría a la práctica. El reto de la medicina traslacional

Lipid control is one of the pillars of secondary prevention, but despite multiple evidence showing that the risk of new cardiovascular events decreases with lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, this remains the most poorly controlled risk factor in our patients. The development of new drugs, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, will help us to improve this problem, but programmes that improve the continuity of care between cardiologists and primary care physicians are also very important. Although good drugs are available, lipid goals will not be achieved unless they are used in our patients. Despite the clinical development of lipid-lowering therapies in the last few years, there is currently an important gap between the evidence generated by many clinical trials, reflected in the clinical practice guidelines, and its clinical application in our patients, contributing to the fact that a significant number of patients with established cardiovascular disease do not achieve lipid control targets, and consequently continue to be at high risk or have recurrent events. To narrow this gap, it seems necessary to critically analyse the main barriers and to develop strategies to solve these problems. Basic and clinical investigators, cardiologists and primary care physicians, other health professionals, scientific societies and health authorities working together will contribute to close the gap and to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.