Low cholesterol, mortality

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AtherosclerosisLow cholesterol, mortality, and quality of life in old age during a 39-year follow-upTimo E. Strandberg, *,* , Arto Strandberg, *, Kirsi Rantanen, †, Veikko V. Salomaa, ‡, Kaisu Pitkälä, *, Tatu A. Miettinen, *Objectives We assessed the impact of serum cholesterol level in early midlife on total mortality during up to 39 years of follow-up and on the quality of life (QoL) in old age.Background Total effects of low serum cholesterol on health have been in dispute, especially in elderly persons, and there are few data on the long-term effects of low cholesterol on QoL.Methods The cohort consisted of 3,277 healthy businessmen age 30 to 45 years at baseline (1960s). In addition to baseline, serum cholesterol values were available for part of the cohort in 1974, 1986, and 2000. The QoL was assessed in 80.9% of survivors (n = 1,820, mean age 73 years) with a RAND-36 (SF-36) QoL questionnaire in 2000. Mortality up to 2002 (n = 1,173) was retrieved from national registers.Results Cholesterol was clearly reduced in survivors during follow-up, except in the lowest baseline serum cholesterol group. Baseline cholesterol predicted 39-year total mortality in a graded manner (p < 0.0001), and a value ≤5.0 mmol/l was associated with a 25% reduction in total mortality. In old age, the physical component summary score of RAND-36 was significantly (p = 0.02) higher (better) in the lowest baseline cholesterol group; no difference was found in the mental component summary score (p = 0.51).Conclusions Low serum cholesterol level in midlife predicted not only better survival but also better physical function and QoL in old age, without adversely affecting mental QoL.Abbreviations and acronyms: MCS, mental component summary; PCS, physical component summary; QoL, quality of life; SF-36, Short Form-36Article footnote The Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation, the Helsinki University Central Hospital, and the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research have provided financial support. Dr. Strandberg is a senior research fellow of the Academy of Finland (Grant 48613). All authors have cooperated with companies marketing cholesterol-lowering drugs.Affiliations* Department of Medicine, Geriatric Clinic† Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland‡ KTL-National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, FinlandReprint requests and correspondence: *Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Timo E. Strandberg, Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 340, FIN-00029 HUS, Helinski, Finland ****************************************************************************The contents of this email and any attachments are confidential. It isintended for the named recipient(s) only. If you have received this email inerror please notify the sender immediately Do not disclose it's contents toanyone and do not make copies.** This email has been scanned for viruses ******************************************************************************