{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.026785714285714284, 'fraction_numerical': 0.004464285714285714, 'mean_word_length': 5.591911764705882, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Deciphering cholesterol treatment guidelines: a clinician's perspective.

The publication of cholesterol treatment guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA)1 immediately met with considerable support as well some criticism related to their applicability in practice. The criticism was based primarily on 2 issues: eliminating numerical targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) and debate about the value of the new pooled risk calculator for treatment initiation decisions.2,3 Several additional treatment guidelines from established organizations were published in the past year, including from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE),4 the National Lipid Association (NLA),5 and, most recently, the American Diabetes Association (ADA).6 
 
All of these current guidelines emphasize the need for life style changes and to intensify statin therapy as the highly preferred regimen in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) or those at very high risk of developing CVD. However, there are important differences in the criteria for risk assessment and treatment, particularly for primary prevention in the population with or without diabetes (Table). For instance, there are notable differences in approaches to patient selection and treatment proposed by the NLA, whereas the ADA endorses much of the ACC/AHA guidelines, with the major exception of type 1 diabetes, and NICE provides a unique perspective in certain areas. Despite these differences, each of these guidelines has considerable merit when making treatment decisions. 
 
 
 
Table 
 
Key Similarities and Differences Among Major Cholesterol Guidelines