04/01/2026
Strengthening the case for earlier LDL cholesterol lowering
👉New evidence reinforces a simple truth we’ve known for years: atherosclerosis doesn’t wait.
☝️Even with a CAC score of zero, higher LDL-C is linked to non-calcified plaque and a significantly higher risk of future coronary events. The Western Denmark Heart Registry study shows this clearly: LDL-C is harmful long before calcium appears on CT.
☝️The message for prevention is straightforward:
lower LDL-C earlier, maintain it longer, protect the arteries better.
☝️Relying solely on CAC=0 to defer therapy may be comforting, but biology doesn’t negotiate. LDL-C drives plaque from day one—let’s treat it accordingly.
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article-abstract/46/46/5073/8248351?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=fals.