Gezondheid is geen getal

It has not gone unnoticed: the multidisciplinary guideline ‘Cardiovascular Risk Management’ has been revised. The various discussions around this guideline, however, appear to reduce it to a cholesterol guideline. Indeed, the target value for LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol of 1.8 mmol/L in patients under the age of 70 with cardiovascular disease will demand a lot from patients and their general practitioners. Therefore, personally, I have reservations about this guideline. Luckily, the guideline does contain a ‘get-out clause’ in the form of the sentence “the absolute risk reduction must be weighed against possible disadvantages of daily medication use, the chance of side effects and possible costs”, which leaves the door open for pragmatic patient management. One can but hope that these recommended standards stay out of the hands of Pharisees and teachers and are not elevated to becoming mandatory requirements. After all, health is more than just a number, it is a story.

Conflict of interest and financial support: none declared.