Medicus, Vol. 34. No. 1. KRM zdravlje, 2025.
Review article
Treating Dyslipidemia in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
Mislav Vrsalović
Karlo Golubić
Abstract
Dyslipidemia is a key risk factor in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is often underestimated and insufficiently recognized in everyday clinical practice. PAD frequently affects the lower extremities and is associated with a high rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, regardless of the presence of symptoms. Patients with PAD are at an exceptionally high risk for heart attack and stroke and require intensive secondary prevention, including aggressive lipid profile management. Family medicine physicians play a critical role in the early identification and long-term management of dyslipidemia in patients with PAD. The goal of treatment is to achieve low LDL-cholesterol levels <1.4 mmol/L, in accordance with the latest guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The cornerstone of pharmacological treatment consists of statins and ezetimibe, with the addition of PCSK9 inhibitors in cases of insufficient therapeutic response. Recently, new therapeutic options, including bempedoic acid and inclisiran, have become available, further expanding treatment possibilities. This article provides an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms linking dyslipidemia and PAD, presents diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines with a special emphasis on practical application in family medicine, and highlights the importance of patient education and monitoring adherence to therapy. Given the complexity of patients with PAD, the need for an individualized approach and close collaboration with other specialists within an integrated care model is emphasized.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
338518
URI
Publication date:
27.10.2025.
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