Lipid lowering therapy in the elderly: Is there epidemiological evidence?

Hypercholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Interventional studies have shown that lipid-lowering therapy is successful in the setting of primary and secondary prevention of CAD. Although hypercholesterolemia and CAD are most prominent in the elderly, most interventional studies were performed in middle aged men, However, subgroup analyses in these interventional studies indicate that patients benefit from lipid-lowering therapy independent of age. Thus, more CAD related events can be avoided in the elderly since CAD is more prominent in this age group. As the life expectancy of a 65-year-old is approximately 15 years and as the benefits of antihyperlipidemic therapy are detectable after 1-2 years of therapy, such therapy should also be considered in patients over 65 years old.