More Than Half of U.S. Adults Eligible for Statin Therapy Under New Guidelines

Three studies evaluated the potential impact of new cholesterol guidelines, which are expected to improve treatment outcomes. Getty Images The AHA, ACC, and other medical organizations released new cholesterol guidelines in 2026. Three studies evaluated the potential impact of the new guidelines and found that they could expand treatment options. With more than half of U.S. adults eligible for statin therapy under the new guidelines, experts say early intervention is key to cholesterol management. A comprehensive approach to treating high cholesterol is recommended, including lifestyle changes and medication, if needed. The American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), and several other medical organizations introduced the ACC/AHA/Multisociety Dyslipidemia Guideline in 2026. The updated guidelines recommend treating high cholesterol earlier, measuring lipoprotein(a) at least once to identify inherited heart disease risk, and using a newer, more personalized calculator to estimate cardiovascular risk. They also set lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol targets for people at very high risk of heart disease and encourage tailoring treatment based on indi…