Dyslipidemia Management in Older Adults

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States. Older adults, have high rates of chronic conditions including dyslipidemia, a known causal factor for cardiovascular disease. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of statins and nonstatin lipid-lowering therapies in older adults for both primary and secondary prevention. Lipid-lowering therapies should be used in older adults with, or at high risk for, cardiovascular disease to reduce rates of major adverse cardiovascular outcomes. These therapies should not be routinely de-escalated or discontinued based on age but rather on overall functional status and comorbidities.