Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have conducted two studies shedding light on the benefits of statins, a commonly prescribed medication for high cholesterol, in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke in high-risk populations.
The two groups studied include older adults with chronic kidney disease and those with and without frailty.
Statins are well-known for their role in lowering cholesterol levels and preventing recurrent heart attacks or strokes in individuals who have already experienced one.
However, there has been an ongoing debate in the medical community about whether statins should be used as a preventative treatment in individuals who haven’t yet suffered from high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Ariela Orkaby, the corresponding author of the studies, emphasizes the importance of statins in primary prevention, stating, “Our findings demonstrate statins have a protective effect even in people who haven’t had their first major cardiac event, which means there are still benefits to prescribing these medications for primary prevention of heart disease.”
While statins are generally well-tolerated with few side effects for most people, there have been concerns in recent years about their use in certain populations, including those with chronic kidney disease.
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for older adults with kidney disease.
Dr. Orkaby reassures that statins are safe and effective for most individuals, despite some concerns about muscle pains.
The studies, which included a large group of participants with chronic kidney disease and another group of older adults (some of whom were frail), revealed significant benefits associated with statin therapy.
In the study involving individuals with chronic kidney disease, starting statins was linked to a 9% reduction in mortality and a 4% lower risk of heart attack or stroke.
The second study examined a much larger group of older adults, including some who were frail. Among this population, statin therapy was associated with a 39% lower risk of mortality and a 14% lower risk of a first heart attack or stroke.
Importantly, the researchers found that these benefits were consistent across both frail and non-frail individuals, indicating that frailty status did not diminish the positive effects of statin therapy. In fact, the frailest older adults may benefit the most from statin use.
While these studies offer valuable insights into the benefits of statins, the researchers stress the need for further clinical trials to confirm their findings.
Until more conclusive evidence is available, the results suggest that statins remain a safe and effective option for older individuals and those with chronic kidney disease in reducing the risk of heart disease.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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