Cholesterol management in geriatric patients: new guidelines

Consult Pharm. 2015 Feb;30(2):68-76. doi: 10.4140/TCP.n.2015.68.

Abstract

Pharmacists play an important role in the management of primary care disease states such as hypercholesterolemia. The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines provide the pharmacist with pertinent treatment recommendations relevant to day-to-day clinical practice and geriatric care. This article reviews these new evidencebased guidelines for cholesterol management in general and for the elderly specifically. The new guidelines have implications for older adults remaining on or starting statin therapy. With this review, and based on the new guidelines, pharmacists will be informed on how to provide hyperlipidemia recommendations for the older adult. Monitoring of therapy, as well as adverse effects, will be reviewed, including differences among various practice settings.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Pharmacists
  • Polypharmacy
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Professional Role

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors