Heart Disease Risk Factors

Are you at risk of heart disease? This educational tool can help prepare you for a discussion with your doctor to determine your risk of heart disease. And, when needed, it may help your doctor determine a treatment plan that’s right for you.

The following risk assessment tool is based on guidelines established by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) (part of the National Institutes of Health [NIH]*). This tool can estimate your risk of heart disease within the next 10 years.

To determine your risk of heart disease and learn what your cholesterol goal could be, answer the following questions and click the “Calculate” button. You will be able to print your results and discuss them with your doctor. If you don’t know the answers to any of these questions, be sure to ask your doctor.

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Unlike some statins, ZETIA has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks.

If you have

You are in risk category

LDL–C goal, mg/dL

heart disease, diabetes, or risk score of more than 20%

I. Highest Risk

<100

2 or more risk factors and a risk score of 10% to 20%

II. Moderately High Risk

<130

2 or more risk factors and a risk score of less than 10%

III. Moderate Risk

<130

0 or 1 risk factor

IV. Low-to-Moderate Risk

<160

This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician.

Your doctor or health care professional can give you a more detailed explanation—and personal recommendation—about what your cholesterol numbers should be. But the most important thing to do at this point is to take action.

* NCEP Expert Panel. Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Bethesda, MD: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health; 2001. NIH publication 01-3670.

Unlike some statins, ZETIA has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks.

Important Risk Information
About ZETIA (ezetimibe)

ZETIA is a prescription medicine and should not be taken by people who are allergic to any of its ingredients. ZETIA can be taken alone or with a statin. Statins should not be taken by women who are nursing or pregnant or who may become pregnant, or by anyone with liver problems. If you have ever had liver problems or are pregnant or nursing, your doctor will decide if ZETIA alone is right for you. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking ZETIA with a statin and during treatment.

Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. In clinical studies, patients reported few side effects while taking ZETIA. These included diarrhea, joint pains, and tiredness.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or
call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Patient Information for ZETIA and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

How ZETIA Works Differently

See how ZETIA can lower high cholesterol—by itself or with a statin.

You & Your Doctor

Here is information that can help you and your doctor team up effectively.