Low cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates

This study was published in the American Journal of Medicine 2003 Sep;115(4):265-71

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol levels and in-hospital mortality in the elderly.

Onder G, Landi F, Volpato S, Fellin R, Carbonin P, Gambassi G, Bernabei R.

Department of Geriatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. graziano_onder@rm.unicatt.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12967690

The study explored whether cholesterol levels were associated with in-hospital mortality among elderly patients. The study analyzed cholesterol levels in 6,984 hopitalized patients aged 65 years or older.

The study found that those with the lowest cholesterol, less than 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/l), had 44% increased death rates compared to those with the highest cholesterol, over 240 mg/dL (6.6 mmol/l).

The results of the study indicate that among older hospitalized adults, low cholesterol levels are associated with higher death rates.