Research
Trial finds stopping statins may be reasonable for some older adults
In STREAM, stopping statins was noninferior at 2 years for adults 70 and older with multiple chronic conditions and no known cardiovascular disease.
The STREAM trial found that stopping statins was noninferior to continuing them for the risk of major cardiovascular events or death at 2 years. It enrolled adults aged 70 and older with at least two chronic conditions, no established cardiovascular disease and statin use for primary prevention. Researchers randomly assigned participants to stop or continue treatment.
The groups’ mean event-free survival was 96.5 weeks with discontinuation and 98.5 weeks with continuation, according to the researchers. At a median follow-up of 103 weeks, 12.7% of the discontinuation group and 9.2% of the continuation group had a primary-outcome event, ACC reported. Researchers found no difference in quality of life, pain, falls or sarcopenia risk.
Nicolas Rodondi said the decision should be patient-centered. ACC reported that a data and safety monitoring board recommended that participants assigned to stop discuss restarting statins with their care team. The researchers said further trials of drug discontinuation are needed.
