Daily Cholesterol Drug Lowers Heart Attack and Stroke Risk in Older Adults

A large study called STAREE tested nearly 10,000 adults over 70. It found that a daily statin — a cholesterol-lowering drug — cut the risk of a first heart attack or stroke by 30%. Serious side effects were rare. One serious event was prevented for every 37 people treated over six years. Results appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study group was almost entirely white, so findings may not apply to everyone.