A groundbreaking study led by Australian researchers has revealed that taking a common cholesterol-lowering medication, known as statins, can significantly lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people over the age of 70, with minimal serious side effects. This research is the first of its kind globally to focus on this age group.
Statins are typically prescribed to people under 75 who have certain health risks, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, to help prevent severe heart issues like heart attacks or strokes. However, it remained unclear if these medications were safe and beneficial for healthy seniors who had never experienced a major heart event.
According to Adjunct Professor Mark Nelson from Monash University’s public health department, understanding the safety and effectiveness of statins for older adults is crucial. As our population ages, the risk of heart-related events increases, making it essential to find ways to prevent such health issues in senior citizens.
Historically, older adults were often excluded from early statin studies because heart disease was primarily seen in younger, middle-aged demographics, particularly those who smoked. Additionally, older patients frequently have other health issues and medications, complicating drug trials.
To fill this gap in research, Monash University researchers conducted a randomized control trial, including nearly 10,000 participants aged 70 and older. Participants were randomly assigned to take either a daily statin or a placebo, with the help of more than 3,400 general practitioners across Australia.
The decade-long study found that statins reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 30% in older adults. This translates to preventing one significant heart event, such as a heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery, for every 37 older adults treated with daily statins over nearly six years.
Professor James Chong, a cardiologist at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital, highlighted that if this research leads to broader statin use, it could result in a significant decrease in heart-related events. He noted that this could also boost older patients’ confidence in taking statins long-term.
However, he cautioned that the study primarily involved white participants with an average age of around 75, which may limit how widely the results apply globally without further validation.
The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Germany. Lead researcher Adjunct Professor Sophia Zoungas expressed hope that the strong evidence could lead to updated treatment guidelines for doctors.
Researchers encouraged older patients to discuss with their doctors whether statins are suitable for them to maintain their health. Professor Tom Marwick, a cardiologist at Hobart’s Royal Hospital, noted that there has been a lot of misinformation about statins raising the risk of dementia, which has made some older people hesitant to take them. The study found no significant difference in dementia rates between those taking statins and those who were not.
While Marwick praised the study as important, he pointed out that more than 15% of trial participants stopped taking their medication, indicating a reluctance to adhere to therapy. He also noted a slight disappointment in the findings; although the risk of major heart events was reduced, there was no improvement in disability-free survival among participants, meaning that while cardiovascular events decreased, overall life quality or longevity was not guaranteed to improve.
