Ference BA, Bhatt DL, Catapano AL, et al. – Researchers investigated the relationship between genetic variants related to lower levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The study sample consisted of nearly 439,900 participants from the UK Biobank (2006-2010) who were followed up through 2018. They used genetic LDL-C and SBP scores to divide participants into groups with lifetime exposure to lower LDL-C, lower SBP, or both. Variations in plasma LDL-C, SBP, and cardiovascular event rates between the groups were compared to identify potential associations with lifetime risk of CVD. Overall, lifelong genetic exposure to lower concentrations of LDL-C and lower SBP levels was linked to lower cardiovascular risk. The investigators cautioned, however, that their findings should not be assumed to represent the significance of benefit possible from treatment of these risk factors.