Dyslipidemia in the Elderly: Should it Be Treated?

Elderly or older adults constitute a rapidly growing segment of the United States population, thus resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease—an increase that is reaching epidemic proportions. Dyslipidemia is a well established risk factor for cardiovascula...

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Published in:Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) N.J.), 2010-01, Vol.33 (1), p.4-9
Main Authors: Shanmugasundaram, Madhan, Rough, Steven J., Alpert, Joseph S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - metabolism
Aging - pathology
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Dyslipidemias - drug therapy
Dyslipidemias - epidemiology
Fibric Acids - therapeutic use
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use
Medical sciences
Niacin - therapeutic use
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Primary Prevention
Review
Reviews
Secondary Prevention
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Elderly or older adults constitute a rapidly growing segment of the United States population, thus resulting in an increase in morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease—an increase that is reaching epidemic proportions. Dyslipidemia is a well established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and is estimated to account for more than half of the global cases of coronary artery disease. Despite the increased prevalence of dyslipidemia in the older adult population, controversy persists regarding the benefits of treatment in this group. Epidemiologic studies have shown that dyslipidemia is often underdiagnosed and under treated in this population probably as a result of a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of treatment in delaying the progression of atherosclerotic disease, concerns involving increased likelihood of adverse events or drug interactions, or doubts regarding the cost effectiveness of lipid‐lowering therapy in older adults. In conclusion, despite the proven efficacy of lipid‐lowering therapy in decreasing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, these therapies have been underutilized in older patients. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN:0160-9289
1932-8737
DOI:10.1002/clc.20702