Study Shows Statins Could Reduce Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in Seniors
The human body is complex, and no one person is exactly the same. This is one of the beautiful things about life. Our differences are part of what makes us all unique.
What is right for one person may not be right for another, especially when it comes to healthcare. This has been the case concerning statins, a class of medicines that lower cholesterol. Now, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that atorvastatin can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults aged 70 and older who did not have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia.
Bridging the Gap in Statin Research
For years, statins have been prescribed to people under the age of 75 with high cholesterol, diabetes, or other risks to prevent major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke, The Guardian reports. However, things were less clear for generally healthy people aged 70 and above who had never experienced a major cardiovascular event. In those cases, doctors did not know whether prescribing statins was safe or effective for this group.
Four decades ago, researchers largely turned their focus to middle-aged adults, who faced more heart disease at the time, particularly those who smoked. In addition, older adults may also have other illnesses or take multiple medications, making them a more difficult population to include safely in clinical trials.
A Ten-Year Trial
According to a news release from Monash University in Australia, cardiovascular disease is a growing global issue. In 2025, around 600 million adults worldwide were affected by cardiovascular disease, and that figure is expected to rise to more than one billion by 2050. In Australia, an estimated 21,000 older adults experience major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke every year. This is why preventing these conditions in older adults is so vital.
The clinical trial followed almost 10,000 participants in Australia over the age of 70 who were living independently and took either a statin or a placebo. Researchers found that taking a statin reduced the risk of a first major cardiovascular event by 30 percent in adults over 70. Researchers hope the findings will lead to updated guidelines for treatment that support doctors in better managing cardiovascular risk in older adults.
“The risk of heart attack and stroke is a major concern for older people,” Adjunct Professor Sophia Zoungas of the Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said in the press release. “Knowing there is a safe and effective measure for lowering that risk will be a huge reassurance to older people and their families. Anyone who has seen a loved one impacted by cardiovascular disease will know just how important prevention is.”
The findings offer encouraging news for elderly adults. Heart disease and stroke are major issues, especially as people age. Now, thanks to the Monash University study, researchers have evidence that statins can lower the risk of major cardiovascular events among people who begin taking them at an older age.
