Key points from article :
A new study led by Borislava Mihaylova, Associate Professor and Senior Health Economist at Oxford Population Health, has demonstrated that statins are a highly cost-effective way to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in adults aged 70 and over. Published in Heart, the research reveals that statins benefit older adults, regardless of whether they have a history of cardiovascular disease or elevated cholesterol levels. This work is a collaboration between Oxford Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Sydney, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
Heart disease and stroke are major causes of death, especially among older individuals. Statins, a widely-used medication that lowers 'bad' LDL cholesterol, are proven to reduce the risk of these conditions. The study used data from large clinical trials and models to assess the long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of statin therapy. It found that for both men and women over 70, statins not only increase life expectancy but also do so at a very low cost. For standard statin therapy, the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was less than £3,502—far below the £20,000 threshold that healthcare systems use to judge whether a treatment offers good value for money.
The study also found that higher doses of statins, which offer even more health benefits, were cost-effective for most older adults, except for women with lower cholesterol levels. The cost per QALY for higher-dose statins was below £11,778, still considered a good value compared to other medical treatments.
Mihaylova stressed that many people worldwide suffer from preventable heart disease and stroke due to limited access to affordable treatments like statins. This study demonstrates that making statins more accessible to older adults could significantly improve their health at a very low cost.
