(Bloomberg) — The first U.S. overhaul of guidelines for controlling cholesterol released in a decade may double the number of people on drug therapy while limiting the types of medicine they’re prescribed.
The recommendations are based on studies showing treatment with statins, a class of drugs that includes AstraZeneca Plc’s Crestor and Pfizer Inc.’s Lipitor, and a heart-healthy lifestyle help many patients regardless of their cholesterol count. Drugs that work differently than statins, including Merck & Co.’s Vytorin and Zetia, aren’t recommended.
