Discontinuing cholesterol-lowering statins is generally safe for adults ages 70 and older who have not had a heart attack or stroke and who take the medications for primary prevention, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting, held Nov. 6–9 in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of cardiovascular science. The findings were simultaneously published as a full manuscript in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The study enrolled 1,880 adults with an average age of 77, all of whom had at least two chronic health conditions such as past cancer or pulmonary disease. Half were assigned to discontinue statins, and half continued therapy. Over approximately two years, the rates of heart attack, stroke, and death were similar between the groups, and there were no differences in quality of life, muscle pain, falls, or sarcopenia. Statistically, for every 40 individuals who discontinued statins, one additional cardiovascular event occurred over two years.
In an extended follow-up of up to four years, 12.7% of those who discontinued statins experienced a heart attack, stroke, or death, compared with 9.2% of those who continued. “This small, increased risk of cardiovascular events means that one cannot make a general recommendation about stopping statins in this patient population,” said study author Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, professor of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. “There should be shared decision-making between the patient and the healthcare professional.”
The research matters because about 25% of U.S. adults are estimated to have high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Statin therapy is the foundation of lipid-lowering, as detailed in the Association’s 2026 joint guideline on dyslipidemia. The new data suggest that while discontinuation may be reasonable for many older adults without existing cardiovascular disease, the slight risk increase over time reinforces the need for individualized care.
Redberg noted that the four-year finding of increased risk is new in the scientific literature and may be due to the larger sample size and longer follow-up compared with previous studies. The trial was conducted at 24 clinical centers in Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands from November 2021 to April 2026. A limitation was that about 14% of participants crossed over between groups, but additional analyses yielded no change in results.
For clinicians and patients, the takeaway is that deprescribing statins in this population should be a shared decision, weighing the small absolute risk increase against potential benefits such as reduced pill burden. The American Heart Association provides resources on Cholesterol-Lowering Medications and Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia), as well as the Life’s Essential 8™ - How to Control Cholesterol Fact Sheet. The full study abstract is available in the abstract and the 2026 Online Program Planner. More information about the meeting can be found at Scientific Sessions 2026.
