Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality in Southeast Asia, as it is in the rest of the world. The upward trend in the prevalence of atherosclerosis risk factors in the region underlies this fact. Diets differ from country to country but share a commonality in the use of palm oil and carbohydrate content, particularly with rice as staple food. The increasing burden of diabetes and dyslipidemia has spread from urban to rural areas. Guidelines have been made to help health practitioners curb the trend, however low levels of awareness of targets remain a problem. The current issue addresses the problem of dyslipidemia in the region.
