Stopping statins at 75 may be safe for healthy adults, Lancet study says

Key Points:

• A French randomized trial published in Lancet Healthy Longevity found that stopping statin therapy at age 75 in people without cardiovascular disease showed no significant difference in mortality or major cardiovascular events compared to continuing statins over three years.
• The study involved 1,160 participants with an average age of 80, most of whom had been on statins for at least five years, and found that LDL cholesterol levels rose after stopping statins but did not translate into worse clinical outcomes.
• Researchers emphasize that the findings apply to a specific healthy elderly population and recommend individualized decisions about statin use based on patient longevity, comorbidities, and preferences, cautioning against generalizing results to higher-risk groups.
• The study contrasts with earlier observational research from Denmark and Italy that suggested increased cardiovascular risk after stopping statins, highlighting potential biases in non-randomized studies.
• Experts note the importance of deprescribing as a careful, personalized process aimed at balancing medication benefits and risks, rather than simply reducing pill burden in older adults.