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Rachel V Thomas

Stopping Statins After 75 May Not Raise Death Risk In Low-Risk Adults: The Lancet Study

<span>Statins</span> are widely used to lower “bad” <span>LDL cholesterol</span> and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 

A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that stopping statins in adults aged 75 and older with no history of cardiovascular disease did not increase the risk of death over three years compared with continuing treatment. 

However, LDL cholesterol rose by around 50% among those who stopped taking the drugs. 

<h2>Stopping Statins Did Not Increase Death Risk </h2>

The study found no significant difference in deaths or major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, between older adults who stopped statins and those who continued treatment. 

Researchers cautioned that the findings do not mean older adults should routinely stop taking statins. 

“The decision to continue or stop <span>statin</span> treatment later in life should be individualized and made through shared decision-making between patients and clinicians,” the researchers said. 

Further trials are needed to confirm the findings and assess the long-term effects of stopping statins. 

“The benefits of statins increase over time in younger adults and it remains unknown whether stopping the medication could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death after the three-year follow-up period in older people,” said the researchers from Bordeaux University Hospital and Université de Bordeaux, France. 

The randomized controlled trial enrolled 1,160 adults aged 75 and older with no history of <span>heart disease</span> or <span>stroke</span> at general practices in France. Participants were randomly assigned to stop or continue their statin medication. 

<ul><li>7.2% (35/484) in the statin discontinuation group had died. </li><li>7.9% (48/604) in the continuation group had died. </li><li>There was no significant difference in major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. </li><li>LDL cholesterol rose by 50%, from 115 mg/dL to 171 mg/dL, among those who stopped statins. </li><li>LDL cholesterol showed no change among those who continued treatment. </li><li>Physical and mental quality of life remained unchanged in both groups. </li></ul>

<h2>What Does This Mean for Patients? </h2>

The study involved people taking statins for primary prevention—those at risk of heart disease or stroke but without established cardiovascular disease. 

The researchers stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as a recommendation to stop statins. 

Instead, the decision should be based on the individual patient’s circumstances and discussed with a clinician. 

Evidence on the benefits of statins for primary prevention in older adults remains limited because many statin trials exclude people older than 70 or 80. 

A 2013 Cochrane meta-analysis of 18 trials found a 14% reduction in deaths from all causes among adults taking statins for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the median age of participants was 57. 

The new findings also differ from observational studies from Denmark and Italy published in 2021. Those studies reported about a 30% higher risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes after statins were discontinued in older adults. 

Unlike those cohort studies, the new research was a randomized controlled trial, but it only followed participants for three years. 

Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver, helping slow the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. 

They are prescribed both for people at risk of cardiovascular disease (primary prevention) and those with established cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention). 

The new study does not establish that stopping statins is safe for all adults over 75. Longer-term research is needed to determine whether discontinuing treatment could affect cardiovascular risk or mortality beyond three years. 

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Statins are widely used to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A new study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that stopping statins in adults aged 75 and older with no history of cardiovascular disease did not increase the risk of death over three years compared with continuing treatment. However, LDL cholesterol rose by around 50% among those who stopped taking the drugs. Stopping Statins Did Not Increase Death Risk The study found no significant difference in deaths or major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, between older adults who stopped statins and those who continued treatment. Researchers cautioned that the findings do not mean older adults should routinely stop taking statins. “The decision to continue or stop statin treatment later in life should be individualized and made through shared decision-making between patients and clinicians,” the researchers said. Further trials are needed to confirm the findings and assess the long-term effects of stopping statins. “The benefits of statins increase over time in younger adults and it remains unknown whether stopping the medication could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death after the three-year follow-up period in older people,” said the researchers from Bordeaux University Hospital and Université de Bordeaux, France. What Did the Trial Find? The randomized controlled trial enrolled 1,160 adults aged 75 and older with no history of heart disease or stroke at general practices in France. Participants were randomly assigned to stop or continue their statin medication. After three years: 7.2% (35/484) in the statin discontinuation group had died. 7.9% (48/604) in the continuation group had died. There was no significant difference in major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. LDL cholesterol rose by 50%, from 115 mg/dL to 171 mg/dL, among those who stopped statins. LDL cholesterol showed no change among those who continued treatment. Physical and mental quality of life remained unchanged in both groups. What Does This Mean for Patients? The study involved people taking statins for primary prevention—those at risk of heart disease or stroke but without established cardiovascular disease. The researchers stressed that the findings should not be interpreted as a recommendation to stop statins. Instead, the decision should be based on the individual patient’s circumstances and discussed with a clinician.  Why Are Findings Important?  Evidence on the benefits of statins for primary prevention in older adults remains limited because many statin trials exclude people older than 70 or 80. A 2013 Cochrane meta-analysis of 18 trials found a 14% reduction in deaths from all causes among adults taking statins for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the median age of participants was 57. The new findings also differ from observational studies from Denmark and Italy published in 2021. Those studies reported about a 30% higher risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular outcomes after statins were discontinued in older adults. Unlike those cohort studies, the new research was a randomized controlled trial, but it only followed participants for three years. How Statins Work Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver, helping slow the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries. They are prescribed both for people at risk of cardiovascular disease (primary prevention) and those with established cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention). The new study does not establish that stopping statins is safe for all adults over 75. Longer-term research is needed to determine whether discontinuing treatment could affect cardiovascular risk or mortality beyond three years. 

stopping statins after 75 may not raise death risk in low-risk adults: the lancet study

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