The care gap: underuse of statin therapy in the elderly

Atherosclerotic diseases are responsible for the majority of deaths in the elderly, and they can also increase the risk of disability. Statins are first-line therapies for lowering lipid levels and have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in large-scale clinical trials. There is a growing body of evidence that statins are as efficacious at lowering lipid levels and reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly patients as in younger individuals. Furthermore, as this population is at a greater absolute risk of CHD, they may receive greater absolute benefits from treatment. However, despite these benefits, many elderly individuals at risk of CHD and stroke are not receiving adequate lipid-lowering therapy, which could help them to maintain their health and independence. Further, prospective randomised trials are required to guide physicians in the treatment of elderly patients at risk of atherosclerotic disease, thereby resolving the current undertreatment.