A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity investigated the discontinuation of statins for cardiovascular disease prevention in adults aged 75 or older. The research included approximately 1,100 participants, with an average age of 80.
However, experts have raised concerns about the study's methodology and its applicability to broader clinical practice. Professor Borislava Mihaylova from the University of Oxford stated the study is "substantially statistically underpowered, with too small sample size and short follow-up duration, and should not be used to inform clinical decision-making."
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the BHF, noted that while the trial suggests stopping statins "may not lead to worse outcomes than continuing them over three years in this population of very elderly adults," the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that statins are no longer beneficial. He emphasised that for millions of patients in the UK, statins are "life saving medications."
Professor Robert Storey of the University of Sheffield highlighted that the study was too small to gain a clear understanding of statin treatment benefits, noting that studies on cholesterol treatment and life expectancy typically require thousands of participants. He also pointed out that statins tend to have a greater impact on heart attack risk than overall mortality risk.