Treating hyperlipidemia, Part I: Whether and when in the elderly.

There are elderly persons at increased risk of coronary heart disease due to elevated LDL cholesterol, lowered HDL cholesterol, or both. Risk difference data seem to indicate that the reduction in risk of coronary artery disease by lowering elevated cholesterol values is the same in the elderly as it is in younger persons. hence we recommend screening for total cholesterol in the elderly, followed by a fasting lipid profile in those with screening cholesterol values over 200 mg/dl (230 mg/dl by certain methods). Comparative LDL and HDL cholesterol values, as well as L/H ratios, are presented for assisting in assessment of results and for planning therapeutic strategy.