The atherosclerosis disease process changes with time and LDL-c level, and treatment effect depends on the disease phase

The type of lesion changes with accumulating LDL-c years exposure. With increasing LDL-c levels, pathology transitions from fatty streaks to complex plaque. Initiation of LDL-c lowering therapy can resolve plaques in early lesions and yields a greater relative risk reduction per mmol/L LDL-c reduction than in later stages of the atherosclerotic process. Once a complex plaque is present, initiation of LDL-c lowering therapy stabilizes plaque.

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