Should Sri Lankans over 75 years consider taking Statins?-by Harold Gunatillake
It’s really important to have a good chat with your healthcare provider to find out what’s best for your health and well-being.
In Sri Lanka, it’s quite common for many older adults to have high cholesterol. Most people are familiar with statins, the medications that can help lower cholesterol and support a healthy heart.
However, when someone is 75 or older, even doctors sometimes have different opinions on whether starting or continuing statins is the best choice for them.
Here’s the reason: While there’s plenty of evidence supporting statins for younger adults, there’s less information about how they affect older people. Most studies over the years have focused on people aged 40–75, with only a few including those aged 75 and
older. So, for older Sri Lankans, the real question isn’t just whether statins work, but rather, “How much benefit can they expect at this age?”
- If you or someone close to you has gone through a heart attack, angioplasty with stents, a stroke, or has blocked arteries, taking statins can really make a helpful They’re especially beneficial even after age 75. This approach, called secondary prevention, is well supported by strong evidence demonstrating its positive impact.
3. But for healthy elders, the picture is less clear
For older adults who have high cholesterol but haven’t developed heart disease, the potential benefits are still uncertain. We’re here to understand more and support everyone’s health journey.
Doctors worry about:
Frailty
Multiple medications Kidney or liver issues Shorter life expectancy
Whether the person will live long enough to see the long‑term benefit
This is why decisions must be individualised, not automatic.
4. Side effects matter more with age
Statins are usually safe, but for older adults, even small problems can impact everyday life. It’s important to be aware and consult your healthcare provider if needed.
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Drug interactions
- Slightly higher risk of diabetes
Sri Lankan elders often take medicines for pressure, sugar, arthritis, and gastritis — so adding one more pill needs careful thought.
5. Risk calculators don’t work well after 75
Tools for estimating heart attack risk are validated only up to age
- Beyond that, age alone tends to raise the score, making it harder to determine who truly needs treatment.
So what should older Sri Lankans do?
The best way to go about this is to have a shared decision-making conversation with your doctor. Think about:
- Your overall health
- Your mobility and independence
- Your other medications
- Your personal priorities
- Whether you already have heart disease
For some people, statins can be truly life-saving. For others, making some lifestyle changes might be just what they need.
A 2018 study found that for individuals over 75 who don’t have existing heart problems, taking statins doesn’t seem to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. This suggests that the benefits of primary prevention with statins might be limited for this group.
Bottom line for Sri Lanka
Statins are powerful medicines that can be very helpful, but after age 75, it’s important to consider each person’s unique situation. It’s all about finding the right balance between benefits, safety, and maintaining a good quality of life — it’s not just about the cholesterol numbers.
I hope this article will help you understand whether you should consider taking statins after age 75.
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