Lipid clinics worldwide: harmonization and guidance on how to optimally organize and fund.
European Atherosclerosis Society consensus statement across 55 countries and more than 500 lipid clinics
Published in Atherosclerosis, May 25, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2026.120757
Bork C, Nordestgaard BG et al. Atherosclerosis 2026
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for one in three deaths globally. Despite major advances in lipid testing, preventive therapies, and international treatment guidelines, implementation of optimal lipid management remains highly uneven across countries and healthcare systems. Many patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), elevated lipoprotein(a), severe hypertriglyceridaemia, statin intolerance, and other complex lipid disorders still lack access to specialized care, early diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment.
From the Consensus paper session at EAS Congress 2026
Why is this paper important?
This consensus paper from the EAS Lipid Clinic Network is important because it addresses this unmet need by providing practical recommendations for how lipid clinics can be organized, harmonized, and strengthened worldwide. The paper offers guidance on education and training, staffing structures, patient pathways, national registries, and healthcare policy, with the overall aim of improving prevention of ASCVD and other lipid-related diseases while reducing long-term healthcare costs.
Why now?
The need for coordinated lipid care has never been greater. New therapies and diagnostic tools are rapidly emerging, while cardiovascular disease continues to place a major burden on healthcare systems globally. At the same time, the 2024 EAS Lipid Clinic Network survey highlighted substantial variation in access to lipid clinics, expertise, and treatment implementation between and within countries. This consensus paper comes at a critical time to support more equitable, effective, and evidence-based care across different healthcare settings and income regions.
Why the European Atherosclerosis Society?
The EAS has long been at the forefront of lipid research, education, and guideline development. Through its international Lipid Clinic Network, the Society brings together leading experts, healthcare professionals, and patient representatives from across the world.
This unique collaboration allows the EAS to provide globally relevant, evidence-based, and practice-oriented recommendations that reflect both scientific excellence and real-world clinical needs.
This website breaks down the consensus paper into its key sections and explains each part in a clear and accessible way. The aim is to support clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders in understanding the recommendations and applying them in practice.
EAS President Børge Nordestgaard on the publication,
the EAS-Lipid Clinic Network,
and the European Commission’s Safe Hearts Plan
Elsie Evans, FH Europe Foundation
Kausik Ray, EAS