Older adults who take a statin purely for prevention often wonder whether they still need it. A new randomized trial offers some reassurance for a specific group — while stopping short of telling anyone to quit.
Published in Lancet Healthy Longevity, the French study enrolled 1,160 patients (average age 80) from general-practice offices who had taken statins for prevention, most for at least five years, and randomly had them either continue or stop. Over three years, deaths were similar: 7.2% in the stop group versus 7.9% in the continue group, with no significant difference in major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, and no change in quality of life. (LDL cholesterol did jump about 50% — from 115 to 171 mg/dL — three months after stopping.)
What it means
For healthy, low-risk people over 75 taking statins only to prevent a first cardiovascular event, the findings suggest they “may be no worse off” dropping the daily pill over this timeframe. Importantly, the study does not recommend routine discontinuation; it supports individualized decisions weighing life expectancy, other conditions and patient preference.
The caveats
This applies to primary prevention (no prior heart attack or stroke) in a lower-risk French population, and co-author Fabrice Bonnet stressed it “has to be confirmed in other populations,” noting French participants had lower cardiovascular mortality than typical U.S. patients. It is one trial, not a green light to stop.
This article summarizes one study and is not medical advice. Do not start or stop any medication without talking to your doctor.