"Many Stroke Patients Stop Statins Or Never Start, With Dire Consequences" - Michael O’Riordan
Two new studies shed some light on the use of statin therapy in the setting of acute ischemic stroke, with one study showing that stroke patients who stop taking the LDL cholesterol-lowering medications are at risk of adverse outcomes. Robert Rosenson, MD, professor of medicine and cardiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and director of cardiometabolic disorders said, “Statins have been consistently shown to reduce stroke events even in individuals with coronary heart disease. The observed 40% increased risk of recurrent stroke seen in the Taiwanese analysis is in line with the risk of recurrent MI among patients who stop statin therapy.” The results suggest there is “a need for renewed education and campaigns for high-intensity statins,” particularly since nearly 1 in 5 patients stopped their medication in the first 6 months, added Dr. Rosenson.
- Robert Rosenson, MD, Professor, Medicine, Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Director, Cardiometabolic Disorders
