Adults aged 70 and older who take statins to prevent a first heart attack or stroke but have no existing cardiovascular disease can generally stop the medication safely, according to preliminary late-breaking research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago. The study, which included nearly 1,900 participants with at least two chronic health conditions, found that after about two years, those who discontinued statins had similar rates of heart attack, stroke and death compared with those who continued taking them. The findings were simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The research matters because 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 and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Statin therapy is the foundation of lipid-lowering and risk reduction, including primary prevention, as detailed in the Association’s 2026 joint guideline on dyslipidemia. The new study raises questions about whether continuing statins in later decades of life is always beneficial.
“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.”
The trial included 1,880 adults with an average age of 77; 53% were men, and 47% were women. Half were assigned to discontinue statins, and half continued. Researchers monitored participants for heart attack, acute ischemic stroke and all-cause death, and also assessed quality of life, muscle pain, falls and muscle wasting. At two years, discontinuation was safe without a significant increase in events. However, 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. Statistically, over two years, for every 40 individuals who discontinued statins, one additional cardiovascular event occurred.
Redberg noted the increased risk at four years among a small number of older adults was a new finding in scientific literature, possibly 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.”
The study was conducted from November 2021 to April 2026 at 24 clinical centers in Switzerland, France and the Netherlands. A limitation was crossover in both groups, with about 14% of participants switching groups during the study; additional analyses yielded no change in results. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal. The abstract is available in the abstract and the 2026 Online Program Planner. For more information on cholesterol management, the Association offers resources on Cholesterol-Lowering Medications and Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia). Additional details are available through Scientific Sessions 2026 and heart.org.
