Treating High Cholesterol After Age 65

Heart attack and atherosclerosis are the number one killers in people over age 65 and account for 70% of all deaths beyond age 75.  The same predictors of risk factors apply is this age group. 

TC and LDL in men increase with age up to 60 and then decline.  In women, however, both gradually increase.  Levels of HDL do not decline in men at mean age, but they do in women up to age 85.

The overall evidence suggests that you may live longer if your abnormal blood lipids are properly treated.  More important is the issue of quality of life.  If you can avoid having a heart attack, stroke or severe peripheral vascular disease, even if you don't live longer you will live happier.  Being sick is obviously no fun.  To the extent we can avoid being sick, we can then focus our energies on enjoying life.  This is what the phrase "reducing morbidity" means.  There is no question that with effective therapy, we should be able to reduce morbidity.  We may also be able to reduce mortality (the likelihood of dying) from atherosclerosis.

 

Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center, Charles J. Glueck MD, Director, James E. Lang MD, Associate Director, LeAnn Coberly MD Assistant Medical Director. Jewish Hospital Cholesterol Center, 3200 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229. 

E-mail: glueckch@healthall.com
or cglueck@fuse.net
Fax: 513-924-8273