title: Statin therapy and outcome after ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although experimental data suggest that statin therapy may improve neurological outcome after acute cerebral ischemia, the results from clinical studies are conflicting. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the relationship between statin therapy and outcome after ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary analysis investigated statin therapy at stroke onset (prestroke statin use) and good functional outcome (modified Rankin score 0 to 2) and death. Secondary analyses included the following: (1) acute poststroke statin therapy (≤ 72 hours after stroke), and (2) thrombolysis-treated patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary analysis included 113 148 subjects (27 studies). Among observational studies, statin treatment at stroke onset was associated with good functional outcome at 90 days (pooled odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-1.56; P<0.001), but not 1 year (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.9-1.4; P=0.31), and with reduced fatality at 90 days (pooled OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.62-0.82; P<0.001) and 1 year (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.95; P=0.01). In the single randomized controlled trial reporting 90-day functional outcome, statin treatment was associated with good outcome (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.24; P=0.05). No reduction in fatality was observed on meta-analysis of data from 3 randomized controlled trials (P=0.9). In studies restricted to of thrombolysis-treated patients, an association between statins and increased fatality at 90 days was observed (pooled OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.52; P=0.03, 3 studies, 4339 patients). However, this association was no longer present after adjusting for age and stroke severity in the largest study (adjusted OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.90-1.44; 4012 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the largest meta-analysis to date, statin therapy at stroke onset was associated with improved outcome, a finding not observed in studies restricted to thrombolysis-treated patients. Randomized trials of statin therapy in acute ischemic stroke are needed.
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Unit for Applied Translational Research and Therapeutics, Mater University Hospital/Dublin Academic Medical Centre, University College Dublin, Ireland. dmmnic@umail.ucc.ie
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authors.lastname: Furie
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authors.lastname: Hannon
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authors.lastname: Martí-Fàbregas
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authors.lastname: Martínez-Sánchez
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authors.lastname: Milionis
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authors.lastname: Montaner
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authors.lastname: Muscari
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authors.lastname: Probstfield
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authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Rost
authors.forename: Amanda G
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mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors