PMID- 15934847
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20060214
LR  - 20050606
IS  - 1744-764X (Electronic)
IS  - 1474-0338 (Linking)
VI  - 4
IP  - 3
DP  - 2005 May
TI  - Implications of statin adverse effects in the elderly.
PG  - 389-97
AB  - The elderly differ from younger people in the relation of cholesterol to heart 
      disease and mortality. Clinical trial evidence supports epidemiological findings 
      in showing that high cholesterol weakens in its relationship to heart disease 
      with age and loses (and in older age reverses) its relation to mortality. 
      Randomised trial data confirm that lowering cholesterol no longer extends life in 
      the elderly, even those at high risk of heart disease, and no evidence supports 
      the presumption that the impact on all-cause morbidity is any more favourable. 
      These findings increase the importance of statin adverse effects (AEs) in this 
      group. Furthermore, the elderly may be more vulnerable to known AEs, and evidence 
      provides cause for concern that new risks may supervene, including cancer, 
      neurodegenerative disease and heart failure. Physiological evidence regarding the 
      impact of statins on mitochondrial function, and mitochondrial function on 
      ageing, support these concerns. Additionally, the impact of statin AEs (e.g., 
      muscle and cognitive problems) may be amplified in this group. Effects may be 
      misattributed to ageing. Even modestly lower cognitive and physical function in 
      older elderly prognosticates increased disability, hospitalisation, 
      institutionalisation, and mortality. Disability, once present, is less likely to 
      recover. Because the risk for AEs is unattended by evidence of net benefit to the 
      person, the use of statins in the elderly should be undertaken, if at all, with 
      circumspection and close scrutiny for adverse effects.
FAU - Golomb, Beatrice Alexandra
AU  - Golomb BA
LA  - eng
PT  - Editorial
PL  - England
TA  - Expert Opin Drug Saf
JT  - Expert opinion on drug safety
JID - 101163027
RN  - 0 (Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)
SB  - IM
MH  - Age Factors
MH  - Aged
MH  - Cognition Disorders/chemically induced
MH  - Disabled Persons
MH  - Humans
MH  - Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*adverse effects/therapeutic use
MH  - Hypercholesterolemia/*drug therapy
MH  - Muscular Diseases/chemically induced
MH  - Risk Factors
EDAT- 2005/06/07 09:00
MHDA- 2006/02/16 09:00
CRDT- 2005/06/07 09:00
PHST- 2005/06/07 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2006/02/16 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2005/06/07 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1517/14740338.4.3.389 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2005 May;4(3):389-97. doi: 10.1517/14740338.4.3.389.