The new recommendations shift the focus from simply treating older adults with high short-term risk to preventing heart disease over one’s entire adult life, starting with cholesterol screening at 19. Early screening helps detect high LDL cholesterol before it silently damages arteries over many years. It’s especially relevant for people with a family history of early heart disease or genetic cholesterol disorders. That includes Apolipoprotein B (apoB), which indicates the number of harmful cholesterol particles and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a genetic risk factor linked to higher heart disease risk. LDL < 55 mg/dL — for people with established heart disease or very high risk.

Source: Indian Express March 19, 2026 08:44 UTC