Elevated LDL-C and lowered HDL-C are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Raising HDL-C is an attractive approach for reducing the residual risk of cardiovascular events that persist in many patients receiving low-density LDL-C -lowering therapy with statins. From previous studies, it is concluded that compared to atorvastatin, rosuvastatin could significantly increase HDL-C levels from baseline. However, which benefits the elevated HDL-C will bring to these patients who receive statin lowing LDL-C therapy are still unknown. Despite strong evidence that HDL-C levels predict atherosclerotic events, attempts at using an HDL-based treatment strategy as a therapeutic target have not yet been successful at the present time. However, on the basis of an enormous amount of basic scientific and clinical investigation, the International Atherosclerosis Society and US National Lipid Association still believe that there are a considerable number of reasons supporting the need to continue to investigate the therapeutic effect of modulating HDL structure and function.