Lack of an association or an inverse association between low-density- lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/6/6/e010401.full.pdf
Conclusions:
High LDL-C is inversely associated with
mortality in most people over 60 years. This finding is
inconsistent with the cholesterol hypothesis (ie, that
cholesterol, particularly LDL-C, is inherently
atherogenic). Since elderly people with high LDL-C live
as long or longer than those with low LDL-C, our
analysis provides reason to question the validity of the
cholesterol hypothesis. Moreover, our study provides
the rationale for a re-evaluation of guidelines
recommending pharmacological reduction of LDL-C in
the elderly as a component of cardiovascular disease
prevention strategies.