Cholesterol metabolism disturbances and statin therapy in elderly patients

Czech version

Authors: P. Vyroubal
Authors‘ workplace: Interní JIP, III. interní gerontometabolická klinika LF UK a FN Hradec Králové
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2013, 2, č. 2: 74-78
Category: Review Article

Overview

Elderly people are the fastest growing population segment in high-income countries. One of the most common causes of death among the elderly are cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Age itself is one of the strongest predictors of CVD risk and hypercholesterolaemia is the most important risk factor of CVD. However, these assumptions seem to be based on extrapolations from studies carried out in younger adults. Clinical efficacy and safety of statin therapy have been well established by a series of large-scale, randomised controlled trials. The results of the trial evaluating exclusively elderly patients have contributed enormously to our understanding of the use of statins in the elderly. However a review of the few randomised controlled trials including 80+ year olds did not provide evidence of beneficial effects of lipid-lowering treatment on total mortality in the 80+ year-old group. This review article deals with the benefits and risks of therapy of cholesterol metabolism disturbances in elderly patients.

Keywords:
cholesterol – old age – elderly patients – lipid-lowering treatment – cardiovascular and overall mortality

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Article was published in

Geriatrics and Gerontology

2013 Issue 2