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Pharmacological Management of Hyperlipidemia in Older individuals
Laura V Tsu1, Kacey Carroll2, Katee Kindler3
11Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California.
Insights
Managing hyperlipidemia in older adults is crucial for preventing complications. Statins are primary treatments, with other medications available for those who cannot tolerate them.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- Hyperlipidemia is prevalent in the elderly.
- Limited clinical outcome data exists for older adults compared to the general population.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review current hyperlipidemia guidelines.
- Discuss pharmacotherapeutic management in older individuals.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a PubMed search up to October 2020.
- Included keywords: older adults, hyperlipidemia, statin, ezetimibe, fibrate, fish oil, niacin, bile acid sequestrant, and proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor.
- Assessed original research, reviews, and guidelines for relevance and completeness.
Main Results:
- Statins demonstrate the most evidence for cardiovascular disease prevention in older adults.
- Ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors can be used as monotherapy or add-on treatment for statin-intolerant patients.
Conclusions:
- Optimal hyperlipidemia management in the elderly is vital for better outcomes.
- Pharmacists play a key role in improving elderly hyperlipidemia management through education and guideline adherence.
Objective:
To provide an up-to-date review of current hyperlipidemia guidelines and discuss pharmacotherapeutic management of hyperlipidemia in older individuals.
Data Sources:
A PubMed search of articles published through October 2020 was performed using a combination of the following words: older adults, hyperlipidemia, statin, ezetimibe, fibrate, fish oil, niacin, bile acid sequestrant, and proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor.
Study Selection/Data Extraction:
Relevant original research, review articles, and guidelines were assessed for the management of hyperlipidemia in the older individuals. References from the above literature were also evaluated. Articles were selected for inclusion based on relevance to the topic, detailed methods, and complete results.
Data Synthesis:
Hyperlipidemia is a common chronic disease state in the elderly population, though there is limited evidence for clinical outcomes in older people when compared withwith the general adult population. Statins have the most evidence for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in older people, though ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors have a role as add-on or monotherapy in patients who do not tolerate statins.
Conclusion:
Optimal management of hyperlipidemia in older people is important in order to avoid further complications and improve outcomes. Pharmacists can help improve management in the elderly by incorporating up-to-date evidence from guidelines and providing medication education specifically for this population.
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