Cholesterol lowering and life expectancy: a critical evaluation
Klepzig, H.; Kaltenbach, M.
Zeitschrift für Kardiologie 81(7): 347-353
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5860 PMID: 1509792 Document Number: 388033
Numerous studies have confirmed a positive correlation between serum cholesterol levels and the occurrence of coronary artery disease. Lowering cholesterol by 1% is accompanied by a reduction of coronary events by 2%. The rate of fatal coronary events is not significantly influenced. Coronary angiography demonstrated only a mild average reduction of coronary lesions after cholesterol-lowering therapy. This might be explained by the low lipid content of a coronary plaque (5-15%). The majority of intervention trials revealed an increase of the extracardiac mortality in treatment groups. Thus, up to the present, it remains unproven that cholesterol-lowering therapy leads to an increase in life expectancy.