Cardiovascular risk assessment and the modification of blood lipids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

This guideline covers:

• Adults at higher risk of heart disease, stroke or peripheral arterial disease (cardiovascular disease). Risk of cardiovascular disease increases with age, as well as in people who smoke or who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. People with heart disease in the family or men with a South Asian (for example, Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi) background are also at higher risk.
• People who have already had a heart attack, stroke or 'mini-stroke' (transient ischaemic attack or TIA).
• People who have angina or some other forms of cardiovascular disease.

The guideline doesn't cover everyone who is at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This guideline does not include people with diabetes, those with major genetic causes of high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolaemia) or people with chronic kidney disease, who are also at higher risk.
Responsibility for undertaking a review of this guidance at the designated review date has passed to the National Clinical Guidelines Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions (NCGCACC). The National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care is no longer active.

• In February 2010 NICE Guidance Executive agreed to withdraw the recommendation that the Framingham risk equation should be the equation of choice for assessment of CVD risk, but agreed that it should be one of the possible equations to use. Recommendations relating specifically to the use and modification of the Framingham risk equation have been moved to appendix D of the NICE guideline and page 13 of the quick reference guide. Consider these recommendations when using the Framingham risk equation for assessment of CVD risk.

• Other information

  • CG67 Lipid modification: NICE guideline (web format)
  • CG67 Lipid modification: guideline appendices A-C
  • CG67 Lipid modification: guideline appendix D
  • CG67 Lipid modification: guideline appendices E-J
  • CG67 Lipid modification: guideline appendix K
  • CG67 Lipid modification: guideline appendix L

  How this guidance was produced

  Background information

  • New NICE guidance on lowering cholesterol for people at high risk of cardiovascular disease

Guideline formats

• Web format
• Quick reference guide (PDF)
• NICE Guideline (PDF)
• Full Guideline (PDF)
• Patient version (MS Word)

Lipid modification

Guideline for patients and carers (PDF)