James Shepherd, MD, PhD, Institute of Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.

In the last two decades the prevalence of stroke, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease has increased significantly as a tangible index of aging in the population. All these diseases are increasing the strain on community health care and social services. Policy-makers need to understand and monitor these trends in order to make informed and cogent decisions about the management of this growing problem. This review highlights some of the key health issues facing older adults in regard to vascular disease and statin therapy in the hope that enlightened debate will inform decision makers in resource allocation for this important and growing segment of society.

Key words: statins, PROSPER, vascular risk reduction, economic evaluations, cholesterol.