29: New Dyslipidemia Guidelines Restore LDL Goals and Expand Pharmacist Opportunities

What this episode covers

In this episode of the Tell-Tale Heart podcast, host Craig Beavers, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, BCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CACP, is joined by Joseph Saseen, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CLS, and Dave Dixon, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, FNLA, BCACP, CLS, to discuss the newly released 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guidelines and their implications for pharmacists and patient care. Saseen and Dixon highlight several key updates in the 2026 guidelines, including the replacement of the pooled cohort equations with the PREVENT risk calculator, which now estimates 10-year ASCVD risk starting at age 30 and offers outputs for total cardiovascular disease, ASCVD, and heart failure risk individually. The guidelines also restore explicit LDL cholesterol goals, with targets of less than 70 mg/dL for secondary prevention patients and less than 55 mg/dL for very high-risk patients, alongside corresponding non-HDL goals. Join us for an insightful discussion!