A new study highlights that statins, widely used to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, should be considered for people over 70. Researchers from Oxford Population Health found that statin therapy is both cost-effective and linked to better health outcomes in this age group, even for those without a history of cardiovascular disease.
Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death and disability, with risk increasing as people age. Statins help lower LDL cholesterol, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol, reducing the likelihood of cardiovascular events. While statins are commonly prescribed to middle-aged individuals, their use in older adults has been less prevalent.
“This finding indicates that statin treatment is likely to be of good value-for-money across people over 70 years old,” said lead author, Borislava Mihaylova
The study, published in the journal Heart, analyzed data from over 20,000 UK patients aged 70 and above. Its found that in addition to reduction of LDL levels, statin use significantly increased quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
Despite limited inclusion of older adults in prior statin trials, the benefits of statin therapy extend across all age groups, including the elderly. This underscores the importance of improving access to these low-cost treatments to prevent cardiovascular events in older populations.
