Some low-risk Korean adults moved into higher heart-risk groups
Among adults with low 10-year risk but high 30-year risk or high “bad” cholesterol, 47.71% progressed to higher risk categories within five years.
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The 5,353,877 Korean adults in this observational study were aged 30–59, had never used statins and had no cardiovascular disease caused by fatty buildup in arteries. Women made up 41.3%; median follow-up was 14.3 years.
Among adults with low predicted 10-year risk, the 10-year incidence of such disease was 1.54% with high 30-year risk or high LDL cholesterol, often called “bad” cholesterol, versus 0.50% without either elevation. High meant a 30-year risk of at least 10% or LDL cholesterol of at least 160 milligrams per deciliter. In this subgroup, 47.71% progressed to higher risk categories within five years, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease. Their cumulative LDL cholesterol exposure also exceeded that of people in higher initial risk categories.
Why it matters
Long-term cardiovascular risk bears on when to start cholesterol-lowering treatment as people age. The authors said the findings supported the rationale for early treatment in this group.
Caveats
The observational analysis tracked risk rather than testing early treatment, and 44.9% started cholesterol-lowering therapy before or without an event. Participants were Korean adults aged 30–59 with starting LDL cholesterol of 70 to less than 190 milligrams per deciliter; results appeared in a conference abstract.
The paper
Yonsei Univ College of Medicine
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract, Nov 2, 2026
Presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026, abstract 16893
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