Practical management of lipid disorders.

Hyperlipidemia is a common disease that leads to considerable morbidity and mortality. It is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Hyperlipidemia is often undertreated by medical providers. Several large, randomized trials have established the benefit of aggressive management of hyperlipidemia. Effective treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach. There are many cholesterol-lowering medications on the market. The HMG-coA-reductase inhibitors are the most efficacious and are well tolerated.