Table 1

treatment targets for total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the ESC and NCEP guidelines


Total cholesterol (TC)
Low density cholesterol (LDL-C)

mg/dl
mmol/l
mg/dl
mmol/l

ESC guideline [4]




General population
190
5.0
115
3.0
CAD, CVD or DM
175
4.5
100
2.6
NCEP guideline [6,5]




0 or 1 RF


160
4.1
> 2 RF or


130
3.4
CAD event risk < 20%




CAD or risk equivalent*


100
2.6
optional in very high risk


70
1.8

ESC, European Society of Cardiology; CAD, coronary artery disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Program; *other clinical forms of atherosclerotic disease, diabetes mellitus, or a 10 year-risk for CAD greater than 20%.

Steinhagen-Thiessen et al. Cardiovascular Diabetology 2008 7:31   doi:10.1186/1475-2840-7-31