Heart intertwined with roads, symbolizing cholesterol management.

Decoding the 2016 ESC/EAS Guidelines: Your Guide to Managing Dyslipidemia

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A simplified look at the updated European guidelines for managing dyslipidemia, helping you understand the latest recommendations for a healthier heart."

Dyslipidemia, an abnormal amount of lipids (like cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood, is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Managing it effectively is crucial for preventing heart attacks and strokes. To keep up with the latest research and best practices, experts regularly update clinical guidelines for managing dyslipidemia.

In 2016, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) released updated guidelines for the first time in five years. While maintaining many previous recommendations, these guidelines included important updates and modifications to risk assessment and treatment approaches. Understanding these changes is key for anyone looking to optimize their heart health.

This article will summarize the key updates and differences between the 2011 and 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines, providing a clear and accessible overview of the latest recommendations for managing dyslipidemia.

Understanding Risk and Setting Targets: What's New?

Heart intertwined with roads, symbolizing cholesterol management.

The 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines continue to use the Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) system, a tool for assessing cardiovascular risk based on factors like age, sex, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. However, there are some notable changes in how specific groups are categorized:

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): The guidelines now define 'very high risk' CKD as having an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 30 ml/min/1.73m², a stricter criterion than the previous 60 ml/min/1.73m². Patients with eGFR between 30-59 ml/min/1.73m² are classified as 'high risk'.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM): The 2016 guidelines are more aggressive in managing diabetic patients. Those with target organ damage (e.g., proteinuria) or multiple risk factors (smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia) are now classified as 'very high risk'. Diabetics without these additional factors are considered 'high risk'.

These changes mean that more people may be classified into higher risk categories, leading to more intensive treatment recommendations. The treatment targets, however, remain largely the same: lower LDL-C (bad cholesterol) levels to reduce cardiovascular risk. Specific LDL-C goals depend on the individual's risk category.

Key Takeaways and Future Directions

The 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines provide an updated framework for managing dyslipidemia, emphasizing individualized risk assessment and treatment strategies. While the core principles remain consistent with previous guidelines, the modifications to risk stratification and treatment recommendations offer valuable insights for clinicians and patients alike.

A key focus remains on lowering LDL-C levels, primarily through statin therapy. However, the guidelines also highlight the importance of lifestyle modifications and other lipid-lowering medications, such as ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors, in certain high-risk individuals.

As research continues to evolve, future guidelines will likely incorporate new evidence and refine treatment approaches. Staying informed about the latest recommendations is essential for optimizing cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.12997/jla.2017.6.1.8, Alternate LINK

Title: New European Society Of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society Guideline For The Management Of Dyslipidemia

Subject: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Journal: Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis

Publisher: Korean Society of Lipidology and Atherosclerosis

Authors: Chang Hee Jung

Published: 2017-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is dyslipidemia, and why is it important?

Dyslipidemia is an abnormal level of lipids in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. It is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Effectively managing dyslipidemia is crucial for preventing heart attacks and strokes. The 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guidelines provide recommendations on how to manage this condition.

What is the Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) system, and how is it used?

The Systemic Coronary Risk Estimation (SCORE) system is a tool used in the 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines to assess cardiovascular risk. It considers factors like age, sex, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure to determine an individual's risk level. This risk assessment helps determine the appropriate treatment strategies and target LDL-C levels for patients with dyslipidemia.

How do the 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines classify different patient groups based on risk?

The 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines categorize individuals into different risk groups to guide treatment. The guidelines classify Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 30 ml/min/1.73m² as 'very high risk', a stricter criterion than the previous 60 ml/min/1.73m². Patients with eGFR between 30-59 ml/min/1.73m² are classified as 'high risk'. For Diabetes Mellitus (DM), the guidelines classify those with target organ damage or multiple risk factors as 'very high risk', and those without these additional factors as 'high risk'. These classifications influence the intensity of treatment recommendations.

What are the treatment targets for dyslipidemia according to these guidelines?

The 2016 guidelines mostly retain the previous treatment targets, which focus on lowering LDL-C (bad cholesterol) levels to reduce cardiovascular risk. Specific LDL-C goals depend on the individual's risk category. The overall goal is to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by effectively managing dyslipidemia, with the guidelines providing the framework for achieving these targets.

What are the key takeaways from the 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines?

The 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines offer updated recommendations for managing dyslipidemia by focusing on individualized risk assessment and treatment strategies. While maintaining core principles, the modifications to risk stratification and treatment recommendations are important for clinicians and patients. The guidelines emphasize proactive management of dyslipidemia, which ultimately aims at reducing the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.