Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin after huge trial

Need to know Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin after huge trial All you need to know as a study found that atorvastatin reduced major cardiovascular event risk by 30% however, it did not significantly improve disability-free survival Need to know: Atorvastatin cuts heart attack risk by 30% - Millions of Brits taking the cholesterol drug Atorvastatin have been given major new hope after groundbreaking research showed it cuts heart attack and stroke risk by 30% in older people. - The landmark study presented to the European Society of Cardiology examined nearly 10,000 participants aged 70 and over who had no history of heart disease, diabetes or dementia. - Researchers found that taking 40mg of Atorvastatin daily dramatically reduced major cardiovascular events over nearly six years of follow-up. However, the drug did not significantly improve disability-free survival or reduce deaths. - 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. - Professor Sophia Zoungas, who led the research at Monash University, said: "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." - The findings are particularly significant as up to 8 million adults take statins in the UK, with 5.3 million people in England alone prescribed the drugs by their GP in 2023/24. - While muscle, liver and diabetes-related side effects were slightly more common in those taking Atorvastatin, serious adverse events remained rare at just 2.7% in both groups. - Experts hope the results will lead to updated guidelines to help doctors make better use of these potentially life-saving findings for elderly patients. - READ THE FULL STORY: Major update for anyone taking Atorvastatin for cholesterol in UK over 'death risk'