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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The STAREE trial found that atorvastatin 40 mg reduced major cardiovascular events by 30% in adults aged 70 and older without prior heart disease — the first large-scale trial to show this benefit in that age group. The gains were driven mainly by fewer nonfatal heart attacks and revascularizations, not cardiovascular deaths. However, the drug did not improve disability-free survival over nearly six years of follow-up.
For years, clinicians have been left guessing whether to prescribe statins for primary cardiovascular prevention in patients over 70 — guidelines couldn't make strong recommendations due to a lack of evidence. The STAREE trial, presented at ESC Congress 2026 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, finally fills that gap. Nearly 10,000 independently living adults aged 70+ (no prior CVD, diabetes, or dementia) were randomized to atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo for a median of 5.9 years.
The result: a 30% reduction in major cardiovascular events (HR 0.70), driven by fewer nonfatal MIs and coronary revascularizations. The benefit held across age subgroups, including those 75 and older. However, atorvastatin did not improve the trial's other primary endpoint — disability-free survival — likely because 80% of deaths were from non-cardiovascular causes. There was also no signal of harm or benefit on dementia risk.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With the global population aging rapidly, STAREE offers the clearest evidence yet that statins can meaningfully reduce cardiovascular events in older adults — but clinicians should individualize treatment rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
