Long-term effects of pravastatin on serum lipid levels in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and tolerability of pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia. Pravastatin was administered for 12 months at a mean final dose of 9.9 mg/d to 208 elderly patients (mean [+/- SD] age, 70 +/- 7 years) with levels of total serum cholesterol greater than 5.69 mmol/L. The mean total cholesterol level was significantly decreased from 6.85 +/- 0.80 mmol/L to 5.59 +/- 0.70 mmol/L after 3 months, and this decrease was maintained thereafter. A similar change was observed in the mean serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although the mean serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in all the patients did not change significantly, the level in 34 patients with a value lower than 1.03 mmol/L was significantly increased after 3 months and thereafter. The serum level of triglycerides in all patients was significantly decreased after 3 months and thereafter and the decrease was more marked in 101 patients with levels greater than 1.73 mmol/L. In 168 elderly patients receiving 10 mg/d of pravastatin, there were significant negative correlations between the percent decrease in total cholesterol and both baseline total serum cholesterol level (r = -.354, P < 0.001) and age (r = -.208, P = 0.007). No serious side effects were observed. These results indicate that long-term administration of pravastatin is beneficial in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly patients.
Morimoto
S
S
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Koh
E
E
Fukuo
K
K
Higaki
J
J
Ikegami
H
H
Miki
T
T
Hata
T
T
Ogihara
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D017035:Pravastatin