Death rates increase by 18% for every 1 mmol/l (38 mg/dl) decrease in cholesterol levels

This study was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care 2010 Jun;28(2):121-7

Study title and authors:
Serum total cholesterol levels and all-cause mortality in a home-dwelling elderly population: a six-year follow-up.

Tuikkala P, Hartikainen S, Korhonen MJ, Lavikainen P, Kettunen R, Sulkava R, Enlund H.
Department of Social Pharmacy, University of Kuopio and Kuopio Research Centre of Geriatric Care, Kuopio, Finland. Paivi.Tuikkala@uku.fi

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20470020

The study investigated the association between total cholesterol levels and all-cause mortality in 490 elderly individuals aged 75 years or over, with a six-year follow-up.

The study found:
(a) Those with cholesterol levels below 5 mmol/l (193 mg/dl) had a 52% increase in death rates compared to those with cholesterol above 6 mmol/l (232 mg/dl).
(b) Death rates increased by 18% for every 1 mmol/l (38 mg/dl) decrease in cholesterol levels.

To conclude: People with low cholesterol have a lower survival rate than people with an elevated cholesterol level, irrespective of disease or health status.