A study of over a thousand adults in France suggests that individuals aged 75 and older who have not previously experienced a heart attack or stroke might be able to stop taking statins without an increased risk of death or major cardiovascular events. The findings, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, indicate that discontinuing statins was "noninferior to continuing statins" in this specific patient group.
Researchers from Bordeaux University Hospital examined 1,160 adults with an average age of 80. Participants were randomly assigned to either stop taking statins or continue the medication. Over a three-year follow-up period, 7.2% of those who stopped statins died, compared to 7.9% of those who continued. Major cardiovascular events occurred in 5% of those who discontinued statins, versus 4.4% of those who continued.
While the study found no statistically significant differences in mortality or major cardiovascular events between the groups, researchers did observe a 50% increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in those who stopped taking the medication. For individuals who continued statins, LDL cholesterol levels remained stable. High LDL cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Statins are widely prescribed to prevent cardiovascular disease, primarily by reducing the liver's production of LDL cholesterol. In the UK, approximately eight million adults take statins, with about 1.5 million of those being over the age of 75. These medications are typically prescribed for primary prevention, meaning they are given to individuals at risk of a first cardiovascular event, rather than to prevent subsequent events in those who have already had one.
The researchers acknowledged limitations in their study, including the relatively small number of participants and their generally healthy lifestyles, which could have influenced their heart disease risk. Previous research on statin discontinuation has largely excluded individuals over 70.
Experts not involved in the study urged caution when interpreting the findings. Robert Storey, a professor of cardiology at the University of Sheffield, stated that the results should not guide decision-making for the majority of people treated with statins in this age group. He noted that research on statins' impact on life expectancy typically involves thousands of participants and that the slight increase in heart attack risk observed in the study warrants caution.
Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, commented that while the study offers insights, its findings are limited. He emphasized that for the millions of patients taking statins, the drugs are life-saving and that these findings are not relevant to individuals with a history of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular conditions. Both experts stressed that any decisions regarding changing or stopping statin treatment should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider.