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posted by janrinok on Saturday February 02 2019, @05:56PM   Printer-friendly
from the keep-the-ticker-ticking dept.

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984

Statin therapy reduces risk of major cardiovascular events irrespective of age

Statin therapy reduces major vascular events, and a new meta-analysis shows this is the case even in patients over 75 years of age. The research summarizes evidence from 28 randomized controlled trials, including 186,854 patients, 14,483 of whom were aged over 75.

A meta-analysis finds that despite less evidence in the over 75s than in younger patients, statins reduce the risk of vascular events in older people. The research found no adverse effects of statin therapy on non-vascular mortality or cancer. Statin therapy reduces major vascular events, and a new meta-analysis shows this is the case even in patients over 75 years of age. The research, published in The Lancet, summarises evidence from 28 randomised controlled trials, including 186,854 patients, 14,483 of whom were aged over 75.

Irrespective of age, statins reduced risks of major vascular events by about a fifth per 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol. For major coronary events the overall reduction was about a quarter per 1 mmol/L reduction overall, but ranged from about 30% in those aged 75. The relative risk reductions for stroke and for coronary revascularisation (coronary stenting or bypass surgery) were similar in all age groups.

Dr Jordan Fulcher of the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration, who is based at the University of Sydney NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Australia, says: "Statins are a useful and affordable drug that reduce heart attacks and strokes in older patients. Until now there has been an evidence gap and we wanted to look at their efficacy and safety in older people. Our analysis indicates that major cardiovascular events were reduced by about a fifth, per mmol/L lower LDL cholesterol, by statin therapy across all age groups. Despite previous concerns we found no adverse effect on cancer or non-vascular mortality in any age group."

Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that are widely prescribed to patients at increased risk of heart attacks or strokes. Evidence from randomised trials has shown that statin therapy reduces this risk among a wide range of individuals but there has been uncertainty about their benefits in older people.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 03 2019, @12:46AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 03 2019, @12:46AM (#795518)

    You sure know a lot of whores...

  • (Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday February 03 2019, @02:29AM

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Sunday February 03 2019, @02:29AM (#795549) Homepage Journal

    Come by VanTown and I'll spring for your supper at El Sabor Mexicano.

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
  • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Sunday February 03 2019, @05:22AM

    by stretch611 (6199) on Sunday February 03 2019, @05:22AM (#795591)

    That would make it a lot of strokes.

    --
    Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P