29 May 2024 • A new study using territory-wide public electronic medical records from Hong Kong investigated the efficacy and safety of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in adults aged 75 and older.

Reduction for CVDs after statin therapy were seen in patients aged 75 years or older without increasing risks for severe adverse effects. Of note, the benefits and safety of statin therapy were consistently found in adults aged 85 years or older.

Initiating statin therapy in this age group led to a reduction in the incidence of major cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart failure, without increasing the risk of severe adverse effects such as myopathies and liver dysfunction.

These findings suggest that statins are both effective and safe for primary prevention in the elderly.

Source: Annals of Internal Medicine | Read full story