Treating high blood cholesterol in the older patient.

Although the general importance of treating high blood cholesterol to prevent coronary heart disease (CHD) is now widely accepted, its application to the older patient has not been well-defined. The association between total blood cholesterol levels and CHD morbidity and mortality weakens with age. However, because age itself is a major risk factor for CHD, treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly may bring about a greater reduction in absolute risk than is obtained in younger persons. More research that directly addresses the benefits of the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly is needed.