Efficacy and Safety of Statins in Older Adults

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with the greatest burden borne by adults above 65 years of age. HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors, or statins, have been demonstrated to greatly reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with established cardiovascular disease, yet their rates of utilization in older adults remain relatively low. In addition, few trials have specifically analyzed the efficacy of statins in older patients. This review summarizes the data relevant to the use of statins for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in older adults as well as some of the controversies regarding possible links between statins and cognitive impairment or diabetes.