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Statins and cerebrovascular disease: plaque attack to prevent brain attack
E R Mohler1, N Delanty, D J Rader
1Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
Insights
Cholesterol reduction using statins significantly lowers stroke risk in patients with prior heart attacks. While the exact mechanism is unclear, statins are now a key tool for secondary stroke prevention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Stroke is a leading cause of death globally.
- The role of cholesterol reduction in stroke prevention was previously uncertain.
- Statins are known to reduce cardiovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of statin treatment on stroke risk in patients with a history of myocardial infarction.
- To understand the role of cholesterol reduction in secondary stroke prevention.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from patients with a history of myocardial infarction.
- Observational study or clinical trial data review (specifics not detailed in abstract).
Main Results:
- Statin treatment significantly reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, revascularization, death, and stroke.
- Cholesterol reduction via statins is associated with decreased stroke incidence.
Conclusions:
- Statin therapy is effective in reducing stroke risk among patients with established cardiovascular disease.
- Cholesterol reduction with statins is a valuable addition to the therapeutic strategies for secondary stroke prevention.
Abstract:
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the USA and in the developed world. The beneficial role of cholesterol reduction in decreasing stroke has been uncertain. However, recent data indicate that statin treatment in patients with a history of myocardial infarction not only reduces the risk of a second myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, revascularization procedures and death, but also significantly reduces the risk of stroke. However, the mechanism(s) by which statins reduce stroke remain uncertain. Thus, the therapeutic armamentarium for the reduction of stroke in secondary prevention now includes cholesterol reduction with statins.