High Dose Statins Are Added Benefit for Elderly

08/24/07 Treatment Options, Research, General

A secondary analysis of a study published in the Annals of  Internal Medicine found evidence to support that higher doses of statins, medication that helps purge low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the bad kind) from the bloodstream, has a statistically significant impat on elderly patients (65 years and older) with stable heart disease.

In the study, patients who took higher doses of statins experienced fewer major cardiovascular events. Mortality rates, non-fatal heart attack, and fatal or non-fatal stroke were all lower.

Because of these findigs, the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel endorses statin therapy for heart disease patients older than 65. Results from the Heart Protection Study and PROSPER (Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk) also support prescribing statins for older heart disease patients.

Source:

Annals of Internal Medicine