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In the UK, up to 8,000 lives could be saved each year if all people over the age of 75 were given statins (Image: BSIP / UIG via Getty Images)
Research now reveals that thousands of deaths could be prevented each year if more elderly patients were prescribed statins. A historical review of data from 28 clinical trials revealed that the benefits of cholesterol-lowering drugs far outweigh the rare side effects. Of the 5.5 million Britons over the age of 75, it is estimated that only one-third take statins.
But scientists said nearly 8,000 lives could be saved each year in the UK only if all people over 75 received statin treatment.
Medications reduce the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood, preventing the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Although statins are not suitable for all patients and physicians need to make decisions on a case-by-case basis, the researchers said treatment should be considered for people over 75, with age being the main factor risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The mbadive under-prescription is occurring due to misinformation about their safety and ageist attitude towards older patients, they warned.
Drugs lower the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood, (Image: Getty Images)
The co-investigator, Professor Colin Baigent, director of the Population Health Research Unit of the Council of Medical Research of Oxford University, said: "L & # 39; One of the problems we face is that very often doctors refuse to consider statin therapy for the elderly simply they are old.
"This attitude prevents us from making good use of the tools we have.
"Statins are very cheap – they are only a few cents a day, they have a good safety profile, there are rare side effects, and they are pretty well tolerated.
"We could do more with the information we already have to prevent CVD in people over 75 years old. This is where the biggest burden of illness and the greatest need for action lies.
"When you have such a clearly effective, safe and cheap treatment and its treatment is underused, you should consider it more widely."
The researchers badyzed the effects of using statins in people over 75 years old to end the long-standing debate about whether they are a safe option for older patients.
They found that the drugs did not increase the risk of death from non-cardiovascular disease or the risk of cancer.
Professor Anthony Keech, a professor at the University of Sydney in Australia, said: "Statin therapy has been proven to prevent cardiovascular disease in a wide range of people, but its efficacy and safety is uncertain in many people. old people. Our study summarized all available evidence from key trials to help clarify this problem.
20% decrease in cardiac risk if statins are taken daily
"We found a significant reduction in the number of major vascular events in each of the six age groups considered, including in patients over 75 years of age at the start of treatment."
Published today in The Lancet, the study included data from nearly 187,000 patients aged 63 years on average. More than 14,000 were over 75 years old.
The risk of contracting a major vascular event in a patient decreased by about 20% compared to the reduction in cholesterol achieved by taking a standard daily dose of statins in all age groups.
The risk of a patient suffering from a major vascular event has been reduced by approximately 20% (Image: Getty Images)
The benefits were similar in people with a history of heart problems or vascular disease.
Professor Baigent added that even older patients with normal or slightly below average cholesterol should be offered statins, as a further reduction in their cholesterol levels may still help reduce the risk.
CVDs kill around 150,000 people each year in the UK.
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: "This in-depth badysis provides strong evidence that statins reduce heart attacks and strokes in the elderly, as well as in younger people, and are safe. "
Professor Martin Marshall, Vice President of the Royal College of GPs, said: "It is encouraging to see that new research shows that statins are safe and effective drugs that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease when they are appropriately prescribed, as there is much controversy surrounding their use.
Cardiovascular disease kills an estimated 150,000 people each year in the UK (Image: Getty Images)
"It is particularly rebaduring to see evidence of benefits in patients over the age of 75 – the age group most likely to need treatment for cholesterol and at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. "
Matt Kearney, NHS England's National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, said, "The decision to prescribe what is likely to become a daily medicine for life is complex and depends on the circumstances of each patient. try to adapt the factors of their lifestyle first.
"Prevention of cardiovascular disease is a priority of the NHS long-term plan and general practitioners will receive additional resources to improve the identification and treatment of high-risk conditions, including high cholesterol."
COMMENT
By SIR NILESH SAMANI, British Heart Foundation
STATINS are one of the most prescribed drugs in the UK. They are based on a great deal of evidence that they save lives by reducing the risk of a heart attack or a deadly or debilitating heart attack.
Statins work by lowering LDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, in the blood by reducing its production through the liver.
Too much LDL cholesterol can lead to an accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries.
These increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
187k patients studied with a mean age of 63 years (Image: Getty Images)
Although recent headlines may lead people to question the prescription of statins, decades of research have shown that people who have already had a heart attack or stroke will significantly reduce their risk of a future event. by taking them.
Doctors may also consider recommending statins to people at increased risk of heart attack and stroke because of risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
However, in this case, the decision to prescribe statins will depend on your personal risk and a discussion with your doctor about the best way to reduce it.
It is important to remember that statins do not replace the need for a healthy lifestyle.
Do not smoke, exercise and have a healthy and balanced diet are all important ways to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Statins work by lowering LDL cholesterol (Image: Getty Images)
Although the side effects of statins are possible, research has shown that most of the effects reported by patients were unrelated to the drug and that serious adverse events were rare.
All the evidence suggests that, especially in patients who have had a heart attack or coronary heart disease, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
There is concern that stories about the benefits of statins bring people who have a real interest in preventing them inappropriately.
If you are concerned about taking statins, make an appointment with your doctor.
This will allow you to make an informed decision with the advice of your doctor.
I still play tennis, says Sir Bryan, 86
SIR Bryan Nicholson, 86, started taking statins nearly 20 years ago as a result of a long battle against heart problems.
He suffered a series of minor heart attacks and underwent numerous clogged artery enlargement operations in the 1980s and 90s.
The grandfather of three, who lives in Westminster, said, "I have been taking statins since my second open-heart surgery in the summer of 2000 and have not had a blockage since.
"My interior is a little like the junction of spaghetti, but at least the blood is flowing, and for my age, few people play tennis every week."
Sir Bryan never worried about the safety of statins (Image: Document)
Sir Bryan, who previously held the position of Managing Director of Post Office, President of BUPA and President of CBI, said the debate about the safety of statins had never worried him, as he still trusted his doctors .
"There is no medicine that does not have a number of side effects," he said.
"There were people who had negative effects, but they were in a tiny minority, I looked at them and I thought, 'I do not feel any of these symptoms.'
For him, the increase in the number of statins prescribed from 75 years "makes sense" (Image: Getty Images)
"You have to follow science and listen to those who are experts in the field.No doubt, statins have been a good thing for anyone with heart problems."
"They have been around for a while, but there is now a lot more research that demonstrates their virtues."
Sir Bryan, who has been married to Mary for 62 years, said that the increase in the number of prescribed statins over 75 years old "makes sense".
He added, "I'm really old at 86, but when you're 75, everybody has health problems, why would the heart be immune?"
COMMENT
By BORISLAVA MIHAYLOVA, Nuffield Population Health Department
It has been known for some time that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and the need for coronary procedures.
But there has long been a controversy about whether they should be systematically taken by older people.
The risks increase dramatically with age and almost all people over 75 are at a sufficiently increased risk for statins to be considered according to UK guidelines.
However, less than half of people over the age of 75 take statins and many of them stop treatment with age.
The seemingly contradictory results of research on the value of statins for the elderly are one of the main reasons.
Statin therapy reduces heart attacks, strokes and the need for coronary procedures (Image: Getty Images)
Our study aimed to provide a definitive guide to the effects of statins in the elderly by collecting data from all major statin trials worldwide.
He has clearly demonstrated that statin therapy results in a reduction in heart attacks, strokes and the need for coronary procedures at all ages.
Since the risk of developing these conditions becomes much higher in the elderly, the benefits of statin therapy increase with age.
Therefore, nothing is "too old" for a statin, and such treatment should at least be considered in the elderly to preserve their quality of life.
There may be reasons why a doctor advises against such treatment, but refusing a statin solely because of its age may be inappropriate.
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