title: Treating high blood cholesterol in the older patient.
abstract: Although the general importance of treating high blood cholesterol to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) is now widely accepted, its application to the older patient has not been well-defined. The association between total blood cholesterol levels and CHD morbidity and mortality weakens with age. However, because age itself is a major risk factor for CHD, treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly may bring about a greater reduction in absolute risk than is obtained in younger persons. More research that directly addresses the benefits of the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly is needed.
authors.affiliation: Lipid Metabolism-Atherosclerosis Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Rifkind
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States