STAREE study: Atorvastatin reduces major heart events in elderly by 30%

The STAREE study, led by Professor Sophia Zoungas of Monash University, has revealed that daily administration of 40 mg of atorvastatin can reduce the rate of serious cardiovascular events by 30 percent in adults over the age of 70. The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress, focused on individuals without pre-existing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia.

Involving 9,971 participants with an average age of 74.7 years, the research tracked subjects over a median follow-up period of 5.9 years. While the reduction in cardiovascular events was significant compared to the placebo group, the study found no measurable impact on other key endpoints, such as mortality, dementia, or survival without permanent physical disability.

Regarding safety, participants receiving atorvastatin experienced higher rates of muscle, liver, and diabetes-related side effects than the control group. However, the overall rate of serious adverse events remained equal between both groups at 2.7 percent.