Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin for cholesterol in UK over 'death risk'

Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin for cholesterol in UK over 'death risk' Key study looked at impact of medication on stopping heart attacks - but also side effects and compared risk of death A major update has been given to anyone using Atorvastatin after new research was published. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) was shown results that Atorvastatin reduced major cardiovascular events by 30% in older people without known cardiovascular disease, diabetes or dementia, but did not significantly improve disability-free survival. Statins are commonly prescribed to manage high cholesterol in people up to 75 years of age due to their proven benefits in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, until now, the risk−benefit of statins to prevent cardiovascular events in older adults without known cardiovascular disease, diabetes or dementia was uncertain due to underrepresentation in major statin trials. An estimated 7 to 8 million adults take statins in the UK. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, around 5.3 million people in England alone were given a recommended statin or ezetimibe by their GP in 2023/24. The most frequently prescribed statins include atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and fluvastatin. Lead Researcher, Professor Sophia Zoungas, from the Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Melbourne, Australia said: “An estimated 21,000 older Australians suffer from major cardiovascular events, like heart attack and stroke, each year, “The trial is the first large randomised controlled trial to examine whether statins can be used for primary prevention in older patients to help them live longer in good health.” The trial looked at people aged 70 years and over with no history of clinical cardiovascular disease, diabetes or dementia. In total, 9,971 participants were randomised (1:1) to oral atorvastatin 40 mg daily or placebo. The study population had a mean age of 74.7 years and 52% were women. The two primary things looked at were major cardiovascular events, defined as cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke or coronary revascularisation, and disability-free survival, defined as survival free of dementia and physical disability. Over a median follow-up of 5.9 years, the researchers demonstrated that the risk of major cardiovascular events was reduced by 30% in the atorvastatin group compared with the placebo group. However, the risk of death, dementia or persistent physical disability did not substantively differ between the two groups. The ESC was told: “Muscle, liver and diabetes-related adverse events were more frequent in the atorvastatin group; however, all serious adverse events were uncommon, occurring in 2.7% of participants in both the atorvastatin and placebo groups.” Professor Zoungas said: “With the world’s population ageing at an unprecedented rate, answering fundamental questions about healthy longevity has become a universal imperative. The risk of heart attack and stroke is a concern for older people and knowing there is an effective measure for lowering that risk will be a huge reassurance to older people and their families. We hope to see updated guidelines to help clinicians make use of these new findings.”