Hic sunt leones, or prevention of complications of atherosclerosis in asymptomatic elderly

Czech version

Authors: prof. MUDr. Jan Piťha, CSc.
Authors‘ workplace: Centrum experimentální medicíny IKEM ; Interní klinika, 2. LF UK a FN Motol, Laboratoř pro výzkum aterosklerózy
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2020, 9, č. 2: 85-92
Category: Review Article

Overview

The main goal of hypolipidemic therapy in the elderly (persons older than 75-80 years) is longer life, preferably of better quality. Cardiovascular events of atherosclerotic origin are still the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in general population of developed countries, and this risk substantially increases with age. On the other hand, older people are also those most sensitive to the side effects of otherwise in this field very successful therapy with hydroxy-methyl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins). Despite the proven benefit of statins in the general population, only a few substudies have reliably evaluated effect of statins in patients older than 75-80 years, especially in the treatment of asymptomatic individuals (in primary prevention). Therefore, there is still unequivocal evidence in this field in terms of statin treatment and reliable data are lacking. However, given that we must make decisions about the treatment of these people or patients on daily basis, we have tried to present kind of pragmatic approach to this topic.

Keywords:

statins – elderly – cardiovascular diseases – primary prevention

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