Statins linked to lower risk of cardiovascular events in elderly, claims study

Results revealed the following facts.

• Five thousand nine hundred ten patients, aged 65 years and older were included, of whom 3157 were 80 years and older.
• Two years of statin prescription in patients aged 80 years and older resulted in both a lower risk of the composite end point (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.62–1.02]) and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.57–0.80]).
• After correction for the mortality of 23.9% of the patients during the first 2 years, the number needed to treat was 64 for the primary outcome during a median follow-up of 3.9 years and 19 for all-cause mortality.

"Our results provide evidence for initiating statins after a first stroke in patients above the age of 80 years to prevent cardiovascular disease recurrence Although prescription rates increase over time, in our study up to 40% of the patients aged 80 years and older, did not receive a statin prescription within 90 days after discharge even in 2016. Guidelines give limited recommendations on the initiation and discontinuation of statin treatment in older patients.²⁴ Current evidence should be better implemented in guidelines and local poststroke protocols. In case of a positive decision regarding initiation of statins, efforts should be made to keep patients adherent to statins for at least 2 years regardless of a patient's age, except when the prognosis of the patient clearly deteriorates during these 2 years." the team opined.

For full article follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.030755

Primary source: Neurology