New 2026 Hyperlipidemia Guideline Significantly Expands Eligibility for Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy

A new 2026 cholesterol treatment guideline has substantially increased the number of adults eligible for lipid-lowering therapy. Under the updated guidelines, 54.6% of adults aged 20–79 without established cardiovascular disease now meet the criteria for treatment, a 13.3 percentage-point rise from the 41.3% eligible under the 2018 guideline. Women and older adults are particularly over-represented among those who have gained eligibility for this therapy.