title: Comparison of lipid profiles and attainment of lipid goals in patients <65 years versus patients ≥65 years (from the Lipid Treatment Assessment Project [L-TAP] 2).
abstract: There is a well-established link between dyslipidemia and cardiovascular events, although this risk is modified by age. Little is known about how treatment of dyslipidemia and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol goal attainment differ between older and younger patients. We obtained clinical data from 9,926 dyslipidemic patients across 9 countries in North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia from 2006 through 2007. Multivariate regressions were performed to determine predictors of lipid level goal attainment. The study sample consisted of 5,733 adults <65 and 4,193 adults ≥65 years old. Compared with younger patients, older patients were more likely to have diabetes (32.5% vs 30.0%, p = 0.0014) and hypertension (73.4% vs 57.0%, p <0.0001), to be classified as high risk (68.6% vs 53.2%, p <0.0001), and to be taking a statin (79.1% vs 72.0%, p <0.0001). However, they were less likely to smoke (8.2% vs 17.6%, p <0.0001) or to have metabolic syndrome (29.0% vs 34.4%, p <0.0001). Older patients had lower LDL cholesterol levels (95.1 vs 103.9 mg/dl, p <0.0001) and higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (54.2 vs 51.5 mg/dl, p <0.0001). LDL cholesterol goal attainment was 74.7% in older and 71.1% in younger patients (p = 0.036). Older patients were more likely to achieve LDL targets whether low risk (89.8% vs 84.6%, p = 0.002), moderate risk (79.0% vs 71.9%, p = 0.0006), or high risk (70.5% vs 64.4%, p <0.0001). In conclusion, older patients had different risk profiles and better lipid levels compared with their younger counterparts. They were more likely to attain their LDL cholesterol goal, perhaps because of greater statin use, different risk profiles, or survival bias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Raul D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Messig
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarasenko
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrières
authors.forename: J Wouter
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jukema
authors.forename: Cheng-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Foody
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007843:Latin America; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL