Treatment of hyperlipidemia in women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the evidence that lipid lowering prevents coronary heart disease (CHD) events in women.


METHODS
English-language literature assessing the effects of cholesterol lowering with dietary and/or drug interventions as primary or secondary prevention on CHD events in women.


METHODS
Coronary heart disease and total mortality were the primary outcomes assessed. Angiographic regression of coronary atherosclerosis was a secondary outcome. STUDY SELECTION, DATA EXTRACTION, AND DATA SYNTHESIS: All nine of the identified studies that met the criteria were included. Relative risks for CHD and total mortality were calculated from available data. Summary relative risks were calculated using meta-analytic techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no evidence from primary prevention trials that cholesterol lowering affects total mortality in healthy women, although the available data are limited. Limited evidence suggests that treatment of hypercholesterolemia in women with coronary disease may decrease CHD mortality. Future research should address the role of dietary and other nondrug treatment of hypercholesterolemia in women at high risk for CHD.
Walsh
J M
JM
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco/Mount Zion 94115, USA.
Grady
D
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents