The trial the primary-care question has waited for: 9,971 healthy Australians aged 70 and over (mean 74.7, 52 percent women) randomised to atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo, median follow-up 5.9 years. Major cardiovascular events 6.0 versus 8.3 percent (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.82, p under 0.001). The co-primary disability-free survival endpoint (death, dementia or persistent disability) was not improved: 12.8 versus 13.6 percent (HR 0.94, 0.84 to 1.05, p=0.25). Muscle, liver and diabetes events more frequent on atorvastatin; serious adverse events 2.7 percent in both arms. Hot Line 2, NEJM.
