In adults 70 and older with no prior cardiovascular disease, atorvastatin cut first major cardiovascular events; disability-free survival did not improve

What the research found

Study (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled). The STAREE trial abstract in the New England Journal of Medicine (2026; 395(13):1259-1272; doi 10.1056/NEJMoa2607314; epub 29 August 2026; issue date 1 October 2026; PubMed 42670961) reports community-dwelling adults at least 70 years old with no history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or dementia, randomized to atorvastatin 40 mg once daily or placebo. Monash’s news account called it a trial of nearly 10,000 people, run with general practices across Australia and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress on 29 August 2026. After a median 5.9 years, a primary cardiovascular event occurred in 297 people on atorvastatin (10.9 per 1,000 person-years) and 412 on placebo (15.5 per 1,000 person-years); hazard ratio 0.70; 95% CI 0.61 to 0.82; P<0.001. Death from any cause, dementia, or persistent physical disability occurred in 637 versus 676 (21.6 versus 23.0 per 1,000 person-years); hazard ratio 0.94; 95% CI 0.84 to 1.05; P=0.25. Serious adverse events were 131 (2.7%) versus 129 (2.7%). Musculoskeletal, hepatobiliary, and diabetes-related adverse events were more common on atorvastatin. The abstract does not give a sex split. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02099123. Atorvastatin is a prescription statin. Starting or stopping it is a clinician decision. Educational notes. This is not medical advice and not a substitute for a prescribed medicine.

Evidence level: Clinical trial. This is among the stronger kinds of evidence, but one study rarely settles a question.

Read the original at Monash University / New England Journal of Medicine