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Daily pill taken to protect the heart faces new questions for some older adults
Fox News • • health
Key Points:
- A new randomized clinical trial involving 1,880 adults aged 70 and older found that stopping statins for primary prevention carries a small increased risk of heart attack, ischemic stroke, or death over about two years compared to continuing treatment.
- About 13% of those who stopped statins experienced cardiovascular events or death versus 9% who continued, but no significant differences were seen in quality of life, muscle pain, falls, or muscle strength between groups.
- The study's authors caution against making general recommendations to stop statins in older adults without prior cardiovascular disease and emphasize shared decision-making with healthcare providers.
- Limitations include treatment non-adherence and a follow-up period primarily around two years, leaving uncertainty about longer-term risks of discontinuing statins in this population.
- Experts highlight the importance of individualized decisions based on health status and life expectancy, noting that statin continuation did not worsen muscle pain or quality of life in the trial.
