Statins ‘effective at reducing stroke and heart attack events in over 75s’

(Lauren Hurley/PA)

Statins are as effective at reducing stroke and heart attack events in over 75s as they are in younger age groups, scientists have said.

Researchers analysed data from more than 240,000 people and found that cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients aged 75 and above by 26% (per 1mmol/L reduction in cholesterol), compared to a 15% risk reduction in patients younger than 75 years.