title: Pre and Post-stroke Use of Statins Improves Stroke Outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there is sufficient evidence that HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors reduce stroke recurrence in patients with or ischemic heart disease, it remains unclear whether they also improve outcomes given before or after stroke onset and whether such an effect is more robust with pre-stroke or post-stroke use of statins.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a retrospective analysis of a large University Health Consortium Database. Patients with statin use before or after stroke onset were included in the analysis. Twenty patients discontinued statins after stroke onset. The outcome measures were discharge home or long-term care facility and/or death within 45 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with prior statin use were more likely to be discharged home (1.67, CI 1.12-2.49), as were post stroke statin patients who had a more robust effect OR 2.63, CI 1.61-4.53).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients started on statins after stroke were more likely to be discharged home versus patients already on statins before stroke onset. However, both groups were also more likely to be discharged home than those patients not on statins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Majaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Rajat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henninger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
keywords: HMG CoA reductase inhibitors; ischemic stroke; outcome