Could cholesterol lowering drugs decrease stroke risk?

Could cholesterol lowering drugs decrease stroke risk?

Could cholesterol lowering drugs decrease stroke risk? People who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may have a lower risk of having a type of stroke.  According to a new study published in the December 7, 2022, online issue of Neurology. The medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

An intracerebral haemorrhage

“While statins have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke from blood clots. There has been conflicting research on whether statin use increases or decreases the risk of a person. Who is having a first intracerebral haemorrhage,” study…

“For our study, we looked at the lobe and non-lobe areas of the brain. It was to see if the location was a factor for statin use and the risk of a first intracerebral haemorrhage. We found that those who used a statin had a lower risk of this type of bleeding stroke in both areas of the brain. The risk was even lower with long-term statin use.”

The lobe area of the brain includes most of the cerebrum, including the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes. The non-lobe area primarily includes the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum and brainstem.

Study Reveals

For the study, researchers looked at health records in Denmark. They identified 989 people with an average age of 76 who had an intracerebral haemorrhage in the lobe area of the brain. Compared to 39,500 people who did not have this type of stroke and were similar in age, sex and other factors.

They also looked at 1,175 people with an average age of 75.  Who had an intracerebral haemorrhage in the non-lobe parts of the brain. In comparison to 46,755 people who did not have this type of stroke. while they were similar in age, sex and other factors.

Researchers used prescription data on statin use:

Of the total participants, 6.8% who had a stroke had been taking statins for five or more years, compared to 8.6% of those who did not have a stroke.

After adjusting for factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, and alcohol use, researchers found that people currently using statins had a 17% lower risk of having a stroke in the lobe areas of the brain and a 16% lower risk of stroke in the non-lobe areas of the brain.

Longer use of statins was associated with a lower risk of stroke in both areas of the brain. When using statins for more than five years, people had a 33% lower risk of having a stroke in the lobe area of the brain. Also a 38% lower risk of stroke in the non-lobe area of the brain.

“It’s reassuring news for people taking statins that these medications seem to reduce the risk of bleeding stroke as well as the risk of stroke from blood clots,” Study.. The research was done in only the Danish population, which is primarily people of European ancestry. More research should be conducted in other populations.”