Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2012 , Vol 15, Issue 2
STATINS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTION IN THE OLDEST OLD: AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXISTING EVIDENCE
Bart WERBROUCK, Nele Van Den NOORTGATE, Mirko PETROVIC
Ghent University Hospital Service of Geriatrics BELÇİKA Hypercholesterolemia, although a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is still one of the leading causes of death among older people in western countries. The use of statins among cholesterol reducing agents in both primary and secondary prevention has not been extensively studied in older patients in contrast to middle-aged patients. Despite a growing body of evidence in secondary prevention, statins are still under utilized in older patients with established vascular disease. On the other hand, the benefits of statins in primary prevention are not so clear. Therefore, the systematic use of statins in older patients with hypercholesterolemia needs to be further investigated. Keywords : Aged, 80 and Over; Cardiovascular Diseases/Prevention & Control; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Hypercholesterolemia