The limitations of lipid-lowering agents in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes are summarized in
table III.[
30,
38,
58,
59] Primary and secondary prevention trials have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of lipid-lowering therapy in elderly patients with hyperlipidaemia[
60,
61] and in patients with type 2 diabetes,[
6,
10] but data in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes are limited.
There are a number of potential safety issues associated with lipid-lowering therapy that are relevant to elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. In general, statins are well tolerated.[
62,
63] However, statin therapy has been associated with muscle injury and hepatotoxicity. According to information in the product labelling from controlled studies, 1–5% of patients receiving statins may develop myalgia, although the incidence of this is not significantly different to that in patients given placebo.[
62] A review of a drug safety database, Qscan-FDA (DrugLogic, Inc., Reston, VA, USA), from January 1990 through to March 2002 identified 3339 cases of statin-associated rhabdomyolysis.[
62] A subsequent analysis of data from November 1997 to March 2000 identified 612 cases of rhabdomyolysis, with one-half of the reported cases occurring in patients aged 51–75 years.[
62] Concomitant use of gemfibrozil and niacin were found to increase the risk of statin-associated myopathy (primarily associated with statins that have a drug-drug interaction with gemfibrozil, including lovastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin).[
62,
64] In June 2011, the FDA initiated label changes for products containing simvastatin to include restrictions on the use of a simvastatin dose of 80 mg/day, because of an elevated risk of myopathy at this dosage.[
65] The FDA recommends that simvastatin 80 mg/day should only be used in patients who have already taken this dose for ≥12 months without evidence of myopathy. Combination therapy may be a safer alternative to help patients achieve LDL-C goals without requiring high statin dosages such as these. Elevated liver enzyme levels during statin treatment are not uncommon, but studies have suggested that the incidence of aminotransferase levels of >3 times the upper limit of normal is approximately 1–3%, and is not significantly different to that in patients given placebo.[
66‐
70] The FDA recently updated statin labels to recommend performing liver enzyme tests before initiation of therapy and as clinically indicated thereafter (as opposed to routine periodic monitoring as was previously recommended).[
71] Importantly, there does not appear to be an association between increased age and risk of significant liver injury.[
63] The updated statin labels also include a warning regarding reports of cognitive impairment associated with statin use, which may be of particular concern in elderly patients.[
71]
Niacin has the potential to worsen glycaemic control,[
59] although studies have shown that immediate-release niacin, as well as low doses of extended-release niacin, can be used safely in patients with type 2 diabetes.[
72‐
74] There are also data suggesting that some statins may worsen glycaemic control or increase the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes, as illustrated by findings with atorvastatin.[
75‐
77] Bile acid sequestrants (colesevelam, cholestyramine and colestipol) are associated with gastrointestinal effects, primarily constipation.[
78] Finally, the use of fibrates may be limited in some elderly patients because they are contraindicated in patients with hepatic or severe renal impairment.[
79,
80]