Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 82(14), 1381–1391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.07.027 Dr. Niklas Worm Andersson et al.
Points
- The study examined the clinical effectiveness of lowering LDL cholesterol through lipid-lowering therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in a Danish nationwide cohort.
- Participants included individuals aged 50 and older with no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who initiated lipid-lowering therapy.
- The research found that a 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol in older individuals (≥70 years) was associated with a 23% lower risk of major vascular events, similar to younger individuals (<70 years).
- These results suggest that lowering LDL cholesterol is equally beneficial for primary prevention of major vascular events in individuals aged ≥70 years and those aged <70.
- The study’s findings significantly affect cardiovascular health management in the aging population.
Summary
In a recent study, a Danish nationwide cohort examined the clinical effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy in reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, with a particular focus on age-related differences. The primary objective of this research was to investigate whether the benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol extended to older individuals (aged ≥70 years) to the same extent as their younger counterparts (aged <70 years).
The study encompassed a cohort of individuals aged 50 years and older who had initiated lipid-lowering therapy between January 1, 2008, and October 31, 2017, and had no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The researchers evaluated the associated risk of major vascular events among older and younger participants by measuring hazard ratios (HRs) per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol.
Remarkably, the results revealed that each 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol in older individuals led to a significant 23% lower risk of major vascular events, mirroring the findings for their younger counterparts. The study thus concluded that the clinical benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol for primary prevention of major vascular events in individuals aged ≥70 years were akin to those observed in individuals aged <70. These results indicate that lipid-lowering therapy remains a valuable approach to reducing cardiovascular disease risk in older individuals despite the previous ambiguity regarding its effectiveness in this age group. The study’s findings have substantial implications for managing cardiovascular health in the aging population.
Link to the article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735109723063945
References Andersson, N. W., Corn, G., Dohlmann, T. L., Melbye, M., Wohlfahrt, J., & Lund, M. (2023). Ldl-c reduction with lipid-lowering therapy for primary prevention of major vascular events among older individuals. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 82(14), 1381–1391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2023.07.027
