Discontinuing statins generally safe for older adults without heart disease: Study

It is generally safe for adults ages 70 and older who take statins to prevent cardiovascular disease but who have not had a heart attack or stroke to discontinue taking the cholesterol-lowering medications, according to new, independent, preliminary late-breaking science presented today at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting on Nov. 6-9 in Chicago is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.

About 25% of U.S. adults are estimated to have high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), or “bad cholesterol,” which can build up in the arteries, affecting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack and/or stroke. Statin therapy is the foundation of lipid-lowering and risk reduction, which includes primary prevention aimed at preventing a first heart attack or stroke, as detailed in the Association’s 2026 joint guideline on dyslipidemia.

“While the Association’s recent joint guideline recommends lifestyle and potentially medication for people with high LDL-C at younger ages to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, recent studies question the health benefits of continuing statins in the later decades of life,” said study author Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, professor of cardiology and the Araxe Vilensky Endowed Chair in Cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. “A few previous studies assessed the safety of discontinuing statins for primary prevention at age 70 and later, and they found no difference in mortality. One study suggested quality of life improvements after stopping statins. Whether it is safe to discontinue statins to prevent a first CVD event in the elderly remained unclear and the question we explored in our study.”

This study included nearly 1,900 adults, ages 70 and older, who took statins to prevent a first cardiovascular event and had at least two chronic health conditions, such as past cancer or pulmonary disease. Half of the participants discontinued taking statins, while the other half continued taking them. The researchers monitored the participants during the next two years, and for up to four years, for heart attack, stroke or death. They also assessed quality of life, muscle pain, falls and muscle wasting (known as sarcopenia).

What are the study’s key findings?

• At about two years, discontinuation of statins was safe, without a significant increase in heart attack, stroke or death, compared to those who continued the therapy.
• There were no differences between the groups when researchers assessed the study participants’ quality of life, muscle pain, falls and sarcopenia.
• Statistically speaking, over the course of two years, for every 40 individuals in the group who discontinued statins, one additional cardiovascular event occurred among them.
• In a follow-up period of up to four years, 12.7% of those who discontinued statins had a heart attack, stroke or death, compared to 9.2% who continued the therapy.

Redberg noted the increased risk at four years among a small number of older adults was a new finding in scientific literature, one which she said could be because this trial had more people and a longer follow-up than previous studies.

“This small, increased risk of cardiovascular events means that one cannot make a general recommendation about stopping statins in this patient population,” she said. “There should be shared decision-making between the patient and the healthcare professional to know if it is appropriate for an individual to discontinue the medication. In general, however, discontinuation is safe for most people who are in this age group and without a previous CVD event.”

Reference:

Rodondi N, Haller ML, Bardoczi JB, Adam L, Blum MR, Gencer B, Itach T, Flury JS, Brockhus LA, Aebi PS, Feller M, Gregoriano C, de la Harpe R, Gussekloo J, Schwab N, Poulizac P, Mooijaart SP, Beer JH, Baggio S, Carballo S, Bonnet F, Zekry D, Gabutti L, Wertli MM, Aujesky D, Bauer DC, Redberg RF, Greenland P, Poortvliet RKE, Schuetz P, Méan M, Haynes AG, Trelle S; STREAM Investigators. Discontinuing Statins in Older Adults without Cardiovascular Disease. N Engl J Med. 2026 Nov 7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2606634.