LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PRAVASTATIN ON SERUM-LIPID LEVELS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and t olerability of pravastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A re ductase inhibitor, in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia. Prav astatin was administered for 12 months at a mean final dose of 9.9 mg/ d to 208 elderly patients (mean [+/- SD] age, 70 +/- 7 years) with lev els of total serum cholesterol greater than 5.69 mmol/L. The mean tota l cholesterol level was significantly decreased from 6.85 +/- 0.80 mmo l/L to 5.59 +/- 0.70 mmol/L after 3 months, and this decrease was main tained thereafter. A similar change was observed in the mean serum lev el of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although the mean serum lev el of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in all the patients did not change significantly, the level in 34 patients with a value lower tha n 1.03 mmol/L was significantly increased after 3 months and thereafte r. The serum level of triglycerides in all patients was significantly decreased after 3 months and thereafter, and the decrease was more mar ked in 101 patients with levels greater than 1.73 mmol/L. In 168 elder ly patients receiving 10 mg/d of pravastatin, there were significant n egative correlations between the percent decrease in total cholesterol and both baseline total serum cholesterol level (r = -.354, P < 0.001 ) and age (r = -.208, P = 0.007). No serious side effects were observe d. These results indicate that long-term administration of pravastatin is beneficial in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in elderly pat ients.