Daily Statins Reduce First Heart Event Risks in Adults Over 70, Study Finds

Daily cholesterol-lowering medication known as statins can safely lower the risk of first-time heart attacks, strokes, and cardiac surgeries in healthy adults aged 70 and older, according to a landmark clinical trial led by Australian researchers.

The decade-long randomised controlled trial, conducted by Monash University, tracked nearly 10,000 participants aged 70 and older who were administered either a daily statin or a placebo. The study found that statin use decreased the risk of a first major cardiovascular event by 30 percent. Based on the trial data, treating 37 older adults with daily statins over roughly six years prevents one major cardiac event.

Participants were recruited with the assistance of nearly 3,400 general practitioners across Australia. The trial specifically focused on healthy older adults, excluding individuals who did not live independently, those with prior heart attacks, and those with existing medical conditions that made statin use unsafe. Study co-author Adjunct Professor Mark Nelson noted that older populations were largely overlooked in early statin trials decades ago because medical research primarily focused on middle-aged groups and smokers.

The findings also provided clarity on potential side effects. The researchers reported a low risk of serious adverse effects and found no statistically significant difference in dementia rates between the statin and placebo groups. Hobart Royal Hospital cardiologist Professor Tom Marwick said the large-scale results “really close the book on that, in large numbers,” regarding lingering fears that statins increased dementia risks. However, the study noted adherence challenges, as over 15 percent of participants stopped taking their assigned medication.

A notable limitation highlighted by the trial was that disability-free survival rates remained identical between participants who took statins and those who received placebos. This indicates that while statins successfully prevent major heart events, they do not extend overall life expectancy or alter the general physical burdens associated with aging.

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 stated that she hopes the findings lead to updated clinical guidelines. Meanwhile, Sydney Westmead Hospital cardiologist Professor James Chong cautioned that because the study population was average-aged 75 and almost exclusively white, additional research is necessary to determine if the results apply globally across diverse demographic groups.

Background

Statins are widely prescribed to patients under 75 who present elevated cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, as well as to individuals of any age who have previously experienced a major cardiac event. However, medical guidelines previously lacked definitive clinical evidence regarding whether healthy older adults without prior cardiovascular issues would safely benefit from taking daily statins as a preventive measure.