Story perspectives

Statins reduced frailty risk by 24% in veterans

6/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Statin initiation cut frailty risk by 24% in veterans, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital said.
The study used Medicare and Medicaid data on 987,301 veterans aged 67+ from 2002-2018, with 290,729 starting statins and 636,000 becoming frail.
Adjusted models still showed a 24% lower frailty risk after controlling for BMI, sex, race, smoking, cardiovascular disease and cancer, but clinicians said randomized trials are needed.

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Story summary

Statin initiation cut frailty risk by 24% in veterans, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital said.
The study used Medicare and Medicaid data on 987,301 veterans aged 67+ from 2002-2018, with 290,729 starting statins and 636,000 becoming frail.
Adjusted models still showed a 24% lower frailty risk after controlling for BMI, sex, race, smoking, cardiovascular disease and cancer, but clinicians said randomized trials are needed.