High LDL cholesterol and statin use were independently associated with lower eight-year mortality in a cohort free from terminal illness, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes at baseline

mortality with hazard-ratios ranging from 0.44 to 0.71 depending on age and gender. The association was strongest for men in the age group 50 – 60 years, showing a 56% lower risk of dying for men with LDL-C 3 mmol/L than for those with LDL-C 3 mmol/L. High levels of both total cholesterol ( 5 mmol/L) and HDL cholesterol ( 1 mmol/L) were associated with lower mortality, but hazardratios were not as low as for LDL-C levels.