statins, pros and cons?

HollyBerry

I tried to search for an old conversation on this, but didn't find one; feel free to redirect me if this has been discussed before.

A few years ago, the provider in Geriatrics put my partner on a statin because her cholesterol was something like 240. The next time she saw her primary, they took her off the statin. I was never completely sure why. Yesterday she saw her new primary (other one retired), cholesterol is up, LDL is quite high, and she would like her back on the statin. 10-year risk of a coronary event is 13%.

I have really mixed feelings about all of this and I'm trying to tease out my own opinions vs what is objectively good medical practice vs. what might be different for someone well along the path of Alzheimers. In the same way we choose whether we want to continue screenings like mammograms, how important is it for someone with a progressive, terminal condition to take yet another prescription drug to avoid something that's a fairly low risk? maybe it doesn't matter, just take the statin along with the handful of stuff she already takes. For CVD, it's probably the only preventive measure she's capable of doing, so how much does it really affect the outcome? I struggled somewhat with similar questions when they wanted to treat her osteoporosis, but in the end decided it (Reclast) was probably a good idea.

Thoughts? would your thoughts be different for someone who has a strong family history of heart disease and has other risk factors, vs someone with no family history and few risk factors? are there other benefits I'm not recognizing to starting a statin in a 76-year-old person diagnosed with Alzheimers 6 years ago? You are welcome to tell me to quit worrying and just fill the prescription, it's cheap and it's just one more small pill among many. thanks!

Timmyd

These are my considerations. It is reasonable that other people have different considerations.

How compliant is DW with taking medication? Is it easy to get DW to take the pill?

What is the cost of the medication? Will it increase our financial burden?

How far along is DW in progression and what do the statistics indicate about life expectancy? Is the pill addressing something which is is a reasonable medical concern given the big picture at this stage of the disease?

RetiredTeacher

My 77 yr old DH is probably late stage 5 VD due to 3 previous strokes. He has 2 abdominal aortic aneurysms a thoracic aneurysm, poor CV health and emphysema. His Dr still wants him on a statin and a low dose aspirin. He's been on these for the last 5 yrs. If we stop the statin his chance for an additional stroke or heart attack increases. If we stop the statin and he has a CV event. It's quite likely he could spend the rest of his days in SNF. He doesn't want that, I don't want that for him and it would financially bankrupt us. If he were late stage 7 would I feel the same??? Perhaps not. For our situation in this moment in time, we will continue the statin. It is a very personal decision and no universal correct answer. We can only do our best and pray God will handle the rest.