There are not many randomized trials on the use of statins in elderly. Some researchers have then analyzed the efficacy and the safetyof rosuvastatin in a subgroup of elderly belonging to the JUPITER trial, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, sponsored by pharmaceutical industry. Participants were neither diabetic, noraffected by heart diseases, they presented LDL-cholesterol levels < 139 mg/dl and PCR levels ≥ 2.0 mg/dl. Among the 5695 subjects ≥ 70 yearsof age, the incidence of a major cardiovascular event has been significantly lower in the group taking rosuvastatin than in the placebogroup (1.22 events/100 people/year vs. 1.99). Overall mortality, too, has been lower in the statin group (1.63 deaths/100 people/year vs. 2.04), but this difference is not statistically significant (p=0.09). Severe side events, muscular symptoms, new-onset diabetes, bleedings,
gastrointestinal, renal and liver symptoms have all been more frequent with the statin, even if not significant.
Even lacking diabetes and heart diseases, the participants’ age itself and the prevalence of hypertension
(>65%) put them in a class with a higher risk than the average, but it is necessary to note that the benefits from rosuvastatin have not been recordable in subjects without hypertension. Since 25% of
participants were under 77 years of age, then, data on statin safety andefficacy in older patients continue to lack.
