Aims: A hypothetical benefit of statins after an ischemic stroke could be provided by their pleiotropic effects. Our aim is to test if statins are able to avoid mortality and readmissions of patients with ischemic stroke, by lowering their levels of not only LDL-cholesterol but also CRP.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed. Pre-stroke and post-stroke medications were recorded. Cholesterol and hsCRP levels were measured at admission and 90 days post-stroke. Rankin score and fatality or readmissions were assessed at 90 days and 1 year. We have used robust statistical methods.
Results: Of 359 stroke patients, statins were prescribed before stroke onset in 30.6% (110/359) and were begun during hospitalization in an additional 32.3% (116/359). In logistic regression analysis adjusted, statins therapy was independently associated with improved total mortality (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.11-0.86; P < 0.02), improved cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.08-0.98; P < 0.04), and improved total mortality and readmission rates (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.18-0.7; P < 0.003). In the final model, lowering the levels of hsCRP by 0.4mg/dL, a 30% of mortality or readmissions would be avoided.
Conclusions: Therapy with statins, either previous or early initiation, after an ischemic stroke, could improve the survival and readmission rates by lowering both cholesterol and hsCRP levels.
Keywords: C-reactive protein; statin; stroke.