Epidemiology of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) affects over 120 million adults in the United States and is associated with substantial medical and economic burden. Extensive observational and experimental research has provided insight into the treatment and management of cardiovascular disease. Advances in the understanding of lipid-related risk factors in ASCVD have informed clinical management guidelines, therapeutic interventions, and disease prevention efforts. This chapter will discuss the current state of evidence from epidemiological, genetic, and interventional studies on lipid-related risk factors on ASCVD risk, including apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins [very-low-density lipoprotein, intermediate-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein(a)], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides.