Older adults face an increased risk of heart disease as they age, but a new study has found that statins, drugs used for decades to lower cholesterol, can also reduce this risk.
The study, conducted by Monash University in Australia, showed that statin treatment reduced the risk of experiencing a first major cardiovascular event by 30% in people over the age of 70 who live independently.
These findings are important because the effectiveness of statins in older adults has been questionable until now, as many previous studies have focused on younger people, and it has not been as clear whether starting statin therapy at an older age can provide similar benefits.
The results came from the first randomized controlled trial that focused directly on finding out whether the use of statins can help older adults prevent cardiovascular disease.
The trial lasted about 10 years and involved nearly 10,000 people, some of whom received statins, while others received a placebo. The researchers then compared the health outcomes between the two groups.
The study's lead researcher, Professor Sophia Zongas, from Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said the findings could influence how doctors deal with the risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults.
She added: "What we hope to see now, after such strong evidence has been presented, is an update to treatment guidelines to help doctors take advantage of these new findings."
Statins are widely used to lower cholesterol levels and have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, their use in older adults has been debated due to limited evidence specific to this age group.
The risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases with age, and therefore preventing these diseases is a significant challenge as the number of elderly people around the world rises.
The number of people with cardiovascular disease worldwide is expected to rise from about 600 million in 2025 to more than 1 billion by 2050.
Zongas said the risk of heart attacks and strokes is a major concern for older people, adding that having a safe and effective way to reduce this risk could provide a great deal of reassurance to older people and their families.
Professor Mark Nelson, co-author of the study, general practitioner and associate professor at Monash School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said: "In light of this new evidence, older patients should speak with their GP about whether statins are the right treatment to maintain cardiovascular health."
Professor Derek Chiu, chief scientific and medical officer at the Australian National Heart Foundation, which helped fund the study, welcomed the findings.
Chiu said: "For several decades, statins have played a key role in reducing cardiovascular disease. This study shows that they can play that role even when their use is started later in life."
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