--- title: "Statin Use in Older Adults | Sutter Health" description: "Statin treatment patterns and incident ASCVD among older patients for primary prevention across the spectrum of ASCVD risk." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Statin Use in Older Adults # Statin use in older adults for primary cardiovascular disease prevention across a spectrum of cardiovascular risk Sarraju A, Spencer-Bonilla G, Chung S, Gomez S, Li J, Heidenreich P, Palaniappan L, & Rodriguez F. _J Gen Intern Med. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-07107-7. Online ahead of print._ 2021-09-10 ## Abstract ****Abstract**** ****Background:**** There remains uncertainty regarding optimal primary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention practices for older adults. ****Objective:**** To assess statin treatment patterns and incident ASCVD among older patients for primary prevention across the spectrum of ASCVD risk. ****Design:**** Retrospective cohort study of participants without ASCVD aged 65-79 years. Patients were stratified by age (65-69, 70-75, > 75 years) and 10-year ASCVD risk category (low/borderline, intermediate, high) based on the Pooled Cohort Equations. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions. Cox proportional models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident ASCVD. ****Participants:**** Patients aged 65-79 years without ASCVD from a Northern California health system. ****Main Measures:**** Statin prescriptions and incident ASCVD events. ****Key Results:**** There were 54,066 patients, with 10,288 (19%) aged > 75 years and 57% women. Compared with younger groups, adults > 75 years were less likely to be prescribed moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions across ASCVD risk groups (all p < 0.001); this persisted after multivariable adjustment including for ASCVD risk (odds ratio \[OR\] 0.80, 95% confidence interval \[CI\] 0.74-0.86). Adults > 75 years were more likely to experience incident ASCVD (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.63). Women (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.89) and underweight older adults (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.33-0.61) were also less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins. ****Conclusions:**** Among older adults aged 65-79 years without prior ASCVD, those > 75 years of age were less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins regardless of ASCVD risk compared with their younger counterparts, while experiencing more incident ASCVD. Efforts are warranted to study the reasons for age-based differences in statin use in older adults, particularly those at highest ASCVD risk. [PubMed abstract](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34505981/) ![Jiang Li, Ph.D., MPH](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/H4OFJqNxBzDqkSWaIqDBiZgqIsHNsHLWdLuMd9IlNx0/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) Jiang Li, Ph.D., MPH Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jiang-li-phd-mph-1049681008) ## Research topics - [Cardiovascular Diseases](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%5C%22%22) - [Prevention and Health Maintenance](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Prevention+and+Health+Maintenance%5C%22%22) - [Primary Care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Primary+Care%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Current Science on Consumer Use of Mobile Health for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/aha-consumer-use-mobile-health-cvd-prevention-1055312914) Burke LE, Ma J, Azar KM, Bennett GG, Peterson ED, Zheng Y, Riley W, Stephens J, Shah SH, Suffoletto B, Turan TN, Spring B, Steinberger J, Quinn CC. Circulation. pii: CIR.0000000000000232. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2015 Aug 13 - Publication ### [Statin utilization and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in statin-treated patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: trends from a community-based health care delivery system, 2002-2016.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-and-ldl-in-statin-treated-patients-with-ascvd-1055312752) Romanelli RJ, Ito MK, Karalis DG, Huang HC, Iorga SR, Kam IW, Thompson S, Azar KMJ. J Clin Lipidol. pii: S1933-2874(20)30068-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2020.03.006. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2020 Apr 10 - Publication ### [Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk prediction in disaggregated Asian and Hispanic subgroups using electronic health records.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/cvd-risk-prediction-in-asian-and-hispanic-subgroups-in-ehrs-1055312765) Rodriguez F, Chung S, Blum MR, Coulet A, Basu S, Palaniappan LP. J Am Heart Assoc. 8(14):e011874. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.118.011874. Epub 2019 Jul 11. 2019 Jul 16 - Publication ### [Early weight loss and treatment response: data from a lifestyle change program in clinical practice.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/early-wt-loss-and-tx-response-in-lifestyle-change-program-1055312721) Romanelli RJ, Sudat S, Huang Q, Pressman AR, Azar K. Am J Prev Med. pii: S0749-3797(19)30421-0. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.014. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2019 Dec 20 - Publication ### [A Latino Patient-Centered, Evidence-Based Approach to Diabetes Prevention.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/latino-pt-centered-evidence-based-approach-to-dm-prevention-1055312326) Rosas LG, Lv N, Lewis MA, Venditti EM, Zavella P, Luna V, Ma J. J Am Board Fam Med. 31(3):364-374. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2018.03.170280. 2018 May 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Statin Use in Older Adults"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Statin use in older adults for primary cardiovascular disease prevention across a spectrum of cardiovascular risk","headline":"Statin Use in Older Adults","abstract":"Abstract Background: There remains uncertainty regarding optimal primary atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention practices for older adults. Objective: To assess statin treatment patterns and incident ASCVD among older patients for primary prevention across the spectrum of ASCVD risk. Design: Retrospective cohort study of participants without ASCVD aged 65-79 years. Patients were stratified by age (65-69, 70-75, > 75 years) and 10-year ASCVD risk category (low/borderline, intermediate, high) based on the Pooled Cohort Equations. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions. Cox proportional models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for incident ASCVD. Participants: Patients aged 65-79 years without ASCVD from a Northern California health system. Main Measures: Statin prescriptions and incident ASCVD events. Key Results: There were 54,066 patients, with 10,288 (19%) aged > 75 years and 57% women. Compared with younger groups, adults > 75 years were less likely to be prescribed moderate- or high-intensity statin prescriptions across ASCVD risk groups (all p \u003c 0.001); this persisted after multivariable adjustment including for ASCVD risk (odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.86). Adults > 75 years were more likely to experience incident ASCVD (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.23-1.63). Women (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.81-0.89) and underweight older adults (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.33-0.61) were also less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins. Conclusions: Among older adults aged 65-79 years without prior ASCVD, those > 75 years of age were less likely to receive moderate- or high-intensity statins regardless of ASCVD risk compared with their younger counterparts, while experiencing more incident ASCVD. Efforts are warranted to study the reasons for age-based differences in statin use in older adults, particularly those at highest ASCVD risk.","description":"Statin treatment patterns and incident ASCVD among older patients for primary prevention across the spectrum of ASCVD risk.","keywords":["Cardiovascular Diseases","Prevention and Health Maintenance","Primary Care"],"datePublished":"2021-09-10","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"34505981"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"DOI","value":"10.1007/s11606-021-07107-7"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34505981/","https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-07107-7"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Gen Intern Med"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Sarraju A"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Spencer-Bonilla G"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Chung S"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Gomez S"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jiang-li-phd-mph-1049681008","name":"Li J","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jiang-li-phd-mph-1049681008"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Heidenreich P"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Palaniappan L"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Rodriguez F"}],"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Cardiovascular Diseases","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Cardiovascular+Diseases%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Prevention and Health Maintenance","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Prevention+and+Health+Maintenance%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Primary Care","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Primary+Care%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/statin-use-in-older-adults-1055312838#breadcrumblist"}}} ```