Hypercholesterolemia. Is lipid-lowering worthwhile for older patients?

Abstract

Despite some indications to the contrary, evidence continues to accumulate that controlling cholesterol levels with drug therapy in older persons is a worthwhile goal. Older persons with hypercholesterolemia have an elevated risk of coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality, and this risk increases as they age. Recent clinical trials have suggested that older persons benefit from lipid-lowering therapy as much as younger patients do. Therefore, intervention appears to be justified--as is greater vigilance in identifying untreated patients.