Statins are associated with a lower risk of mortality in older adults
Statins have been shown to prevent strokes, heart attacks and deaths in middle-aged adults. In 28 of the major statin clinical trials, less than 2 percent of participants were 75 or older. There is little evidence that statins are effective for older adults, despite the fact that they have a higher risk of death and heart disease.
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and VA Boston Healthcare System have conducted a new study that uses national data from U.S. Veterans Health Administration Services and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This new study sheds new light on statins’ potential role for older adults without a history of heart attack, stroke, or any other cardiovascular event. Researchers found in their retrospective analysis that veterans taking statins had a 25 percent lower risk of dying than those not on statins. The risk of death from cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks or strokes, was reduced by 20%. The results of the team are published in JAMA.
According to these data, the age of a patient is not a factor in prescribing statins, said Ariela Orkaby MD, MPH, physician scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Division of Aging. Statins are often prescribed and studied for middle-aged people, but not enough is known about their effects on older adults. Our results are remarkable because we found that statins were effective regardless of age or condition.
Source:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-older-adults-statin-tied-decreased.html
