The Use of Simvastatin, an HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitor, in Older Patients with Hypercholesterolemia and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Epidemiological evidence suggests that elevated serum cholesterol, especially the low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction, the total/high density lipoprotein (HDL)–cholesterol ratio, and the LDL/HDL–cholesterol ratio, remains a risk factor for atheromatous disease up to the age of 79 years. We studied the efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin, an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor, in 20 patients aged 65 to 75 years with clinical evidence of atheromatous disease. After four weeks of treatment, there was a 29% fall in LDL‐cholesterol levels (P < .01 vs placebo) with low dose simvastatin and a 38% fall with high dose simvastatin (P < .001 vs placebo). Similar falls were seen in total cholesterol le..