title: [Recommendations for statin therapy in the elderly].
abstract: Elderly patients are significantly less likely to receive statins than younger patients possibly because of doubts regarding compliance or concerns regarding the increased likelihood of adverse events and drug interactions. Poor compliance can be expected especially in patients suffering from dementia or depression as well as those whose stage of cardiovascular disease exhibits few symptoms. On the other hand, the clinical significance of CHD events is high in the elderly, and 80% of coronary deaths occur in patients aged over 65 years. The average statistical life expectancy of elderly and old patients is often underestimated. The HPS and PROSPER studies showed that statins reduce mortality and morbidity even in very elderly individuals with a high global cardiovascular risk and/or CAD. Patients up to the age of 79 years should be treated according to the same guidelines as younger patients. Statin therapy should only be considered for patients aged 80 years and older who are at a very high risk for cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: IV. Medizinische Klinik, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Döser
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
authors.forename: M-F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reinecke
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ringleb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwandt
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bönner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buerke
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Diener
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gohlke
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ringelstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmetz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gladisch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wehling
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors