Cholesterol lowering treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular events

In a pair of new studies, researchers found that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering drugs could benefit elderly patients by reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.

Researchers have provided new evidence as to whether low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering therapy, including statins, may reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events in older patients.

High levels of LDL cholesterol can lead to narrowing of blood vessels, increasing the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.

In an observational study, regarding the number of heart attacks and cardiovascular events, individuals who have never had a previous cardiovascular event between 70 and 100 take medication to lower cholesterol compared to the younger age group. It turns out that you will benefit more from per capita prevention being treated.

In this study, researchers examined data from more than 90,000 individuals in Denmark, including 13,779 patients aged 70-100 years. Patients were followed for an average of 7.7 years, recording the number of first heart attacks and cases of cardiovascular disease, and LDL cholesterol levels in each individual.

Researchers also see the potential benefits of statins for each age group by estimating the number of people who need to be treated with moderate-intensity statin therapy to prevent one heart attack in five years. I evaluated it.

Overall, patients age 70 and older had the highest incidence of heart attack and cardiovascular disease of any age group (heart attack per 1000 people per year, regardless of LDL cholesterol levels: 80-100 years, 8.5 years). Years, 70-79 years, 5.2; 60-69 years, 2.5; 50-59 years, 1.8; 20-49 years, 0.8).

This indicates that people aged 80-100 years suffered 8.5 heart attacks per 1000 people each year.

The researchers also estimated that the number of older people who needed moderate-intensity statin therapy to prevent a heart attack once every five years was lower than in the younger age group in the study.

The study included a total of 1515 incidences of first-time heart attacks and 3389 cases of cardiovascular disease.

In addition, researchers have found that every 80 people aged 80-100 years can prevent one heart attack. For individuals between the ages of 50 and 59, 439 patients need to be treated to prevent a single heart attack.

Børge Nordestgaard, co-author of the first study at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, said: In the statement. “As the proportion of people over the age of 70 is growing rapidly around the world, these data are a primary prevention strategy aimed at lowering LDL cholesterol levels to reduce the population burden of heart disease. The findings should guide the decision as to whether older people will benefit from statin therapy. “

In another systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers found that cholesterol-lowering therapy was as effective in reducing cardiovascular events in patients for at least 75 years, as well as in younger patients. After examining data from 29 randomized controlled trials of more than 21,000 patients aged 75 years and older, researchers found that cholesterol-lowering drugs increased the relative risk of major vascular events in older patients for LDL cholesterol. We have found a 26% reduction per 1mmo / L reduction.

These results are comparable to risk re-education in patients under 75 years of age (15% per 1 mmo / L reduction in LDL cholesterol). The incidence of heart attacks also decreased in this age group.

A study published online that “elderly people are at greater risk of cardiovascular events than younger people and will benefit at least as much from cholesterol-lowering drugs.” Lancet..