Researchers in France have found that stopping statin therapy in people over 75 with no history of cardiovascular disease may not increase the risk of death.
The study, published in the Lancet Healthy Longevity, suggests that patients should discuss their individual circumstances with their doctors to determine if they can safely discontinue statin use. It involved 1,160 patients with an average age of 80, who had been prescribed statins as a preventive measure against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The participants were split into two groups and followed for three years. After three months, LDL cholesterol levels jumped 50% higher in the group that stopped taking statins, while the group that continued statin therapy saw no change.
However, at the end of the three-year study, the differences in outcomes between the two groups were small. 7.2% of patients in the statin discontinuation group had died, compared to 7.9% in the continuation group.
There was no significant difference in major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, between the two groups. Quality of life measures, both physical and mental, remained the same for both groups over the three-year period.
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Romit Bhattacharya, a general and preventive cardiologist, said that the study’s findings will not change the treatment approach for most American patients over 75. However, it may provide more flexibility and choice for individuals with a short time horizon to live and who are already healthy and engaged in care.
A commentary accompanying the study warned that deprescribing should not be confused with therapeutic nihilism, and that the goal is to ensure that treatment remains aligned with an individual’s expected benefit, overall health status, and personal goals.
As people live longer and take multiple medications to manage various health conditions, interest in deprescribing has grown. Doctors are encouraged to review medications that patients have taken for a long time, which often means older patients.
The study’s findings may have implications for the management of high cholesterol in older adults, and highlight the need for individualized treatment approaches, particularly in the context of food additive disclosures and overall health.
In the context of aging and health, the study’s results suggest that a one-size-fits-all approach to statin therapy may not be appropriate, and that a more detailed approach is needed to balance the benefits and risks of treatment, considering factors such as expected longevity and personal preferences.