Statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in the elderly

The study evaluated the effects of statins in nearly 187,000 people who participated in 28 major clinical trials. Participants were divided into six age groups (under 55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, and over 75) to badess the effects of statins on major vascular events (heart attacks / strokes / coronary revascularizations), cancer incidence and death.

Lead researcher, Anthony Keech, professor of medicine, cardiology and epidemiology at the University of Sydney, said: "It has been proven that statin therapy prevents cardiovascular disease in a large number of patients. people, but doubts remain as to its effectiveness and safety, the older people.Our study has summarized all the available evidence from the main trials to help clarify this problem.We have found a significant reduction in major vascular events in each. of six age groups considered, including patients over 75 years of age at the start of treatment. & # 39;

Statins help lower blood cholesterol levels in low density lipoproteins (LDL) and are prescribed to millions of people around the world. High LDL cholesterol can lead to hardening and narrowing of the arteries and cardiovascular disease. The researchers found that, overall, statin therapy reduced the risk of a major vascular event by about a quarter for every millimole reduction per liter of LDL cholesterol, even in the elderly. In addition, the new study found that statin therapy did not increase the risk of death from non-cardiovascular disease or cancer risk, regardless of age.

Cardiovascular risk reductions were observed, regardless of age, in individuals with or without known vascular disease at the beginning of the trials. There was less evidence for people over 75 years of age who did not already have signs of vascular disease (those who had been prescribed statin therapy for "primary prevention" of heart attacks and strokes). New randomized trials are now investigating the effects of statins in apparently healthy older people.

Dr. Jordan Fulcher of the University of Sydney, co-researcher, explained, "Statin therapy seems to be just as effective for people over 75 as it is for young people. We have irrefutable evidence that statins are beneficial for seniors who have a heart attack or stroke. Fewer healthy seniors were represented in these trials, so more information on this group of people would help confirm the same benefits as those we see in the general population of Canada. ; testing. A new randomized trial in Australia, called STAREE1, specifically explores whether statin therapy can extend disability-free survival in a healthy elderly population.

The co-investigator, Professor Colin Baigent, director of the population health research unit of the Oxford University Medical Research Council, added: "The risk of seizures Cardiac and stroke increases significantly with age, but statins are not used as widely in the elderly. they should be. Since the risk of heart attack and stroke increases with age, the potential benefits are likely to be even greater for older people.

"Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that patients at risk of cardiovascular disease because of their age benefit from statin therapy if there is good reason to believe that it will be beneficial. Anyone who is concerned about whether statin therapy is appropriate for them should discuss it with their general practitioner. & # 39;

Provided by
University of Oxford