Statins are a type of medication that can help lower a person’s “bad” cholesterol, reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease. Despite being recommended for adults between the ages of 40 and 75 with heart disease risk factors, fewer older adults use statins. Researchers from the University of Oxford found that statin treatment was cost-effective and correlated to better health outcomes in older adults with or without previous cardiovascular disease. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends adults between 40 to 75 with cardiovascular risk factors take statins, but what about older adults over the age of 70?
A study published in the journal Heart by lead author Borislava Mihaylova and her team from the University of Oxford analyzed data from the U.K. Biobank and Whitehall II study of more than 20,000 adults in the U.K. 70 years and older with or without previous cardiovascular disease. They found that statin treatment was both cost-effective and correlated to better health outcomes in older adults. Standard statin therapy normally results in a 35-45% reduction in LDL cholesterol, while higher-intensity treatment can reduce LDL cholesterol by 45% or more.
The researchers reported that participants who stayed on standard statin treatment for their lifetime increased their quality-adjusted life years by 0.24-0.70, while those on higher-intensity statin therapy raised their quality-adjusted life years by another 0.04-0.13. When examining the cost-effectiveness of statin use in older adults, the cost per quality-adjusted life years gained with statins was reported to be well under the current threshold for good value interventions. This indicates that statin treatment is likely to be a good value-for-money choice for people over 70 years old.
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of disability and death, and effective treatments are needed to reduce risks for high-risk individuals. The study suggests that statins are beneficial for older adults and are an affordable treatment option. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a cardiologist and lipidologist, noted that statins are especially effective for patients with heart disease to prevent recurrent events. He emphasized the importance of patients continuing to take their medication if they are already on statins, as the benefits persist into their 70s and beyond.
Overall, the study highlights the importance of considering statin treatment for older adults, as it can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and improve quality of life. The findings suggest that statins are cost-effective and provide health benefits, making them a valuable option for individuals over the age of 70. Continued use of statins in older adults, especially those with previous cardiovascular disease, can help maintain their benefit and reduce the risk of future heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular issues.imageName-1483-768×548.jpg
