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Strategy for treating elderly Japanese with hypercholesterolemia *
Author(s) -
Horiuchi Hisanori,
Matsuzawa Yuji,
Mabuchi Hiroshi,
Itakura Hiroshige,
Sasaki Jun,
Yokoyama Mitsuhiro,
Ishikawa Yuichi,
Yokoyama Shinji,
Mori Seijiro,
Ohrui Takashi,
Akishita Masahiro,
Hayashi Toshio,
Yamane Kiminori,
Egusa Genshi,
Kita Toru
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0594.2004.00245.x
Subject(s) - medicine , christian ministry , guideline , elderly people , adverse effect , gerontology , cholesterol , pathology , philosophy , theology
Background: It has been widely accepted that control of serum cholesterol levels is effective for prevention of cardiovascular events. Recent data have suggested that this is also the case in the elderly. Methods: A research group (chaired by T. Kita) was organized as part of the Comprehensive Research on Aging and Health conducted by the Japanese Ministry for Health, Labour, and Welfare in 1999–2002 to determine the best strategy for control of cholesterol levels in elderly Japanese with hypercholesterolemia. In order to do this a review of the literature was conducted. Conclusion: The research group concluded: (i) Japanese patients aged 65–74 years with hypercholesterolemia should be treated by following the Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society (2002), as cholesterol‐lowering therapy would bring a similar, or even larger, preventive effect to the elderly, whose absolute risk of cardiovascular events is higher than that in the younger population; (ii) target cholesterol levels in elderly Japanese aged ≥ 75 years with hypercholesterolemia should be determined individually according to their physical activities. It is noted that the elderly are more susceptible to drug‐related adverse effects than the younger since renal and liver functions, required for metabolizing drugs, in the elderly are relatively weaker.