Hyperlipidemia in the elderly.

People are now living longer, largely because of a combination of falling rates of fertility and mortality, thus producing a greater proportion of older people in society. Thirty times more centenarians were alive in 2000 than in 1900, and the population growth in the elderly segment of society is expected to continue at an exponential rate. Vascular disease is responsible for more than a quarter of all deaths worldwide. More than 80% of individuals who die of coronary heart disease are older than 65 years. Although a myocardial infarction may be perceived as fatal, heart attacks do not always lead to death but to conditions such as congestive heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and angina, which greatly impact quality of life. These issues are only a few that must be contemplated when considering the clinical and economic effects of preventive therapies in the elderly population.