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Better outcome after stroke with higher serum cholesterol levels
C Vauthey1, G R de Freitas, G van Melle
1Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Insights
Higher serum cholesterol levels predict better outcomes in the first month after acute ischemic stroke. Patients with high cholesterol experienced significantly lower risks of death and poor functional outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiovascular Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cholesterol's link to cerebrovascular disorders is known.
- Early outcome prediction after ischemic stroke remains critical.
- The prognostic role of cholesterol in acute ischemic stroke is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if serum cholesterol levels predict outcomes in the first month post-ischemic stroke.
- To investigate the prognostic value of cholesterol in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 3,273 first-ever ischemic stroke patients.
- Comparison of functional outcomes at 1 month between high (cholesterol > 6.5 mmol/L) and normal cholesterol groups.
- Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were employed.
Main Results:
- High cholesterol patients had a 2.2-fold lower risk of death (p=0.002).
- High cholesterol patients showed a 2.1-fold lower risk of poor functional outcome (p<0.001).
- Higher cholesterol levels independently predicted better functional outcomes (OR 0.48, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum cholesterol is associated with improved early outcomes after ischemic stroke.
- Higher cholesterol levels may indicate a better prognosis in the acute phase of ischemic stroke.
Objective:
To examine whether serum cholesterol levels have any prognostic value in the first month following acute ischemic stroke.
Background:
Although the association between serum cholesterol levels and cerebrovascular disorders has been extensively studied, the relationship between cholesterol levels and outcome following ischemic stroke has not been investigated.
Methods:
Using data from 3,273 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, the authors compared poor functional outcome (severe disability or death) at 1 month in patients with high cholesterol (total serum cholesterol greater than 6.5 mmol/L or 250 mg/dL) and normal cholesterol (level equal to or less than 6.5 mmol/L or 250 mg/dL). Data were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.
Results:
In comparison with patients with normal cholesterol levels, patients with high cholesterol levels had a 2.2-fold lower risk of death (p = 0.002) and a 2.1-fold lower risk of poor functional outcome at 1 month (p < 0.001). After adjustment for known confounding variables, multivariate analysis showed that higher cholesterol levels remained an independent predictor of better functional outcome (OR 0.48, CI 0. 34 to 0.69, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The authors' findings suggest that higher levels of cholesterol are associated with a better outcome in the early phase after ischemic stroke.