Moderate-intensity Statin vs. Individualized LDL-C Target-based Therapy in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes (iTARGET-Elderly Study)

Statins are the cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention through the lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). While the benefits of intensive LDL-C lowering are well-established for secondary prevention, evidence remains insufficient for primary prevention in the elderly-specifically for individuals aged 70 years or older with type 2 diabetes who have no prior history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events.

Current guidelines generally recommend moderate-intensity statins for this population based on extrapolated data. However, there is a significant evidence gap regarding whether these older adults, who have not yet experienced a cardiovascular event, derive the same risk-benefit ratio from pharmacological intervention as younger or secondary prevention groups. Furthermore, while ezetimibe (alone or in combination) is an effective alternative for patients with established disease, its efficacy as a primary prevention strategy in older diabetic patients has not been rigorously confirmed through randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Therefore, this study specifically focuses on the primary prevention setting, aiming to determine whether individualized LDL-C target-based therapy is non-inferior to standard moderate-intensity statin therapy in preventing first-time cardiovascular events among older patients with type 2 diabetes.