Cholesterol and Older Adults
Higher total cholesterol was associated with a lower risk of noncardiovascular mortality in older adults. This association varied across the late-life span and was stronger in older age groups. This was from a study in the Journal of American Geriatrics in October of this year. So should we be treating these patients with statins? Probably not. But what about our quality numbers? Uh….they may need to revise the indicators. But….but….and now you know why this job is so confusing and we need to be able to adapt when more information keeps coming.
“should we be treating these patients with statins? Probably not.”
I submint that you are asking the wrong question. What you want to know is do statins improve endpoints in elderly patients. (I.e. cholosteral levels are just and indicator; cardiovascular disease is the thing you are trying to prevent.) This article* argues that older patients actually do better on statins than not. (The author has worked for drug companies, though. Still, the conclusion seems reasonable given the references: “Further research is warranted, but in the interim, judicious application of statin therapy to higher-risk elderly patients is appropriate.”)
*: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/115/6/681.full
First, eggs were good, then bad, now they are good again. The Greeks had it right with their intent for moderation. Unfortunately, it is impossible to put “some” into a spreadsheet and have it total out where an accountant can say whether a standard is met or not. BTW, the same issue goes for weight. After the age of 70, being “overweight” actually improved length and quality of life (don’t have the citation but believe it was also JAG).