The beneficial effect of statins treatment by stroke subtype.
OBJECTIVE
Statins have shown some protective effect after ischaemic stroke in observational studies. However, this effect has never been assessed by etiological subtypes.


METHODS
Observational study using data from the Stroke Unit Data Bank from consecutive patients with cerebral infarction. Variables analyzed: demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, treatment with statins at stroke onset, stroke severity, stroke subtype, in-hospital complications, length of stay, and functional status at discharge (modified Rankin Scale).


RESULTS
A total of 2742 patients were included, 1539 were men. Mean age was 69.17 years (SD 12.19). Of these, 281 patients (10.2%) were receiving statins when admitted. The logistic regression analyses showed that previous treatment with statins was an independent predictor for better outcome at discharge among all strokes (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.39 to 3.1) as well as for the atherothrombotic (OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.33 to 5.84) and lacunar strokes (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.15 to 4.52) after adjustment for demographic data, risk factors, previous treatments, stroke subtypes, stroke severity, in-hospital complications and length of stay. This benefit was not observed either in cardioembolic or in other etiology strokes.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous treatment with statins is an independent factor associated with good outcomes in patients with ischaemic stroke. Atherothrombotic and small vessel strokes show the greatest benefit.
Martínez-Sánchez
P
P
Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Rivera-Ordóñez
C
C
Fuentes
B
B
Ortega-Casarrubios
M A
MA
Idrovo
L
L
Díez-Tejedor
E
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D059409:Stroke, Lacunar / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors