Use of statin drugs in women.
Risk factors associated with the progression of coronary disease are the same in women and men, although there are some quantitative differences. Diabetic women, for example, are exquisitely sensitive to the development of atherosclerosis. There is no clinical trial devoted to the study of cholesterol lowering in women. A meta-analysis of recent statin trials with clinical endpoints, however, demonstrates that cholesterol lowering is as beneficial in women as it is in men. Hormone replacement therapy has not been demonstrated in a clinical trial to be of benefit, even though there is considerable observational, epidemiology and basic science evidence that indicates that it might be. It is important that the risk of coronary disease and stroke, particularly in older women, be recognized. Patients at risk should receive cholesterol-lowering treatment with statin drugs to prevent both atherosclerotic morbidity and mortality.
State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA. jclarosa@downstate.ed
John C
JC
LaRosa
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors