Dyslipoproteinemia in the elderly. Should it be treated?

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Lipid disorders are common, but their management in the elderly is debated.
• Current treatment approaches for elderly patients with dyslipoproteinemia are highly individualized and subjective.
• There is a lack of clear consensus on the indication for aggressive screening, surveillance, and management of lipid disorders in older populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current status and future directions of lipid disorder management in the elderly.
• To address the question of whether dyslipoproteinemia should be treated in elderly individuals.
• To highlight the need for objective, uniform guidelines for managing lipid disorders in older patients.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and informal polling of clinical approaches.
• Initiation of studies to identify cardiovascular risk factors in older persons.
• An ongoing intervention trial using HMG CoA reductase inhibitors to lower LDL cholesterol in older subjects.

Main Results:

• Informal polling indicates a conservative approach for patients over 70, contrasting with near-universal support for those under 60.
• Studies are underway to identify specific cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly population.
• An intervention trial is actively investigating the efficacy of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors for lowering LDL cholesterol in older adults.

Conclusions:

• The optimal management strategy for lipid disorders in the elderly remains uncertain.
• The current individualized treatment approach may be superseded by objective guidelines by the year 2000.
• The question of treating dyslipoproteinemia in the elderly warrants further investigation, with a tentative answer of 'Perhaps'.