Suggest safe LDL cholesterol management methods for elderly patients
Dec 26, 2024
A research team led by Hong Soon-joon, Cha Jung-joon, and Kim Joo-hyun of the Department of Circulatory Mechanics at Korea University Anam Hospital proved that the combination of medium-intensity statins and ezetimibe is effective in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
Although high-intensity statin therapy is generally recommended for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to lower LDL cholesterol levels, older patients often struggle with treatment due to muscle-related side effects or the risk of elevated blood sugar. However, this study suggested a new alternative for elderly patients to safely manage LDL cholesterol levels without worrying about side effects from high-intensity statin treatment.
To confirm the safety and effectiveness of the combination therapy of moderate-intensity statins (5 mg of rosuvastatin) and ezetimibe (10 mg), the research team followed up with 561 ASCVD patients over 70 at 11 medical institutions nationwide, 279 patients who received combination therapy and 282 patients treated with high-intensity statin monotherapy for six months.
As a result of the study, the target LDL cholesterol level (less than 70 mg/dL) was achieved in more than 70% of patients in both treatment groups, confirming the equivalent effect. However, the patient group who received the combination therapy had a 0.7% incidence of muscle-related side effects, and the patient group with high-intensity statin monotherapy had a 7.1% incidence of diabetes in the combination therapy group and 15.9% in high-intensity statin monotherapy, confirming low side effects of the combination therapy.
Professor Sun-Jun Hong explained that "the risk of side effects in elderly patients is a major factor to consider in determining treatment strategies" and emphasized that "this study is an important finding that provides safe and effective LDL cholesterol management methods for elderly patients"." Professor Cha Jung-jun said "Medium-intensity statins and ezetimib combination therapy demonstrate that it can contribute not only to the management of cholesterol but also to the reduction of the risk of diabetes in older patients."
Meanwhile, this study 'Safety and efficiency of model-intensity statins with ezetimibe in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease' is published in the latest issue of the internationally prestigious journal 'Journal of Internal Medicine' and is expected to contribute to the development of ASCVD treatment guidelines for elderly patients.
Although high-intensity statin therapy is generally recommended for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease to lower LDL cholesterol levels, older patients often struggle with treatment due to muscle-related side effects or the risk of elevated blood sugar. However, this study suggested a new alternative for elderly patients to safely manage LDL cholesterol levels without worrying about side effects from high-intensity statin treatment.
To confirm the safety and effectiveness of the combination therapy of moderate-intensity statins (5 mg of rosuvastatin) and ezetimibe (10 mg), the research team followed up with 561 ASCVD patients over 70 at 11 medical institutions nationwide, 279 patients who received combination therapy and 282 patients treated with high-intensity statin monotherapy for six months.
As a result of the study, the target LDL cholesterol level (less than 70 mg/dL) was achieved in more than 70% of patients in both treatment groups, confirming the equivalent effect. However, the patient group who received the combination therapy had a 0.7% incidence of muscle-related side effects, and the patient group with high-intensity statin monotherapy had a 7.1% incidence of diabetes in the combination therapy group and 15.9% in high-intensity statin monotherapy, confirming low side effects of the combination therapy.
Professor Sun-Jun Hong explained that "the risk of side effects in elderly patients is a major factor to consider in determining treatment strategies" and emphasized that "this study is an important finding that provides safe and effective LDL cholesterol management methods for elderly patients"." Professor Cha Jung-jun said "Medium-intensity statins and ezetimib combination therapy demonstrate that it can contribute not only to the management of cholesterol but also to the reduction of the risk of diabetes in older patients."
Meanwhile, this study 'Safety and efficiency of model-intensity statins with ezetimibe in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease' is published in the latest issue of the internationally prestigious journal 'Journal of Internal Medicine' and is expected to contribute to the development of ASCVD treatment guidelines for elderly patients.
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