[Pravastatin: efficacy and safety in elderly patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. Open multicenter study]

To analyze the response of hypercholesterolemic elderly patients to pravastatin.

Two hundred and sixty six primary hypercholesterolemics, 65 to 80 years of age, after ingesting a standard diet for four weeks, received 10mg of pravastatin for 12 weeks.

Average reductions of 24% or more were observed for TC and LDL-C, and more than 60% of those reductions were considered good or excellent (above 20%). Increases in HDL-C (6.6%) and the reduction of TG (21.2%) were significant. Patients 65 to 70 years old compared to patients 71 to 80 years old did not show significant response differences, however, the 71 to 80 year old patients had smaller reductions in TC and LDL-C but greater increases in HDL-C. The drug was very well tolerated, with an incidence of adverse events of only 10.5%, none of which resulted in the discontinuation of drug administration. There were significant increases in hepatic enzymes (SGOT and SGTP), however the variations did not have clinical significance. For CK changes were not significant.

Primary hypercholesterolemic elderly seem to respond to pravastatin in a similar way as middle age patients. The effects on the lipid fractions are significant, adverse effects are rare and the drug is very well tolerated. Thus it should be considered a first line hypolipidemic drug.