Relative and cumulative effects of lipid and blood pressure control in the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels trial

Stroke. 2009 Jul;40(7):2486-92. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.108.546135. Epub 2009 May 21.

Abstract

Background and purpose: The relative contributions of on-treatment low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C), triglycerides, and blood pressure (BP) control on the risk of recurrent stroke or major cardiovascular events in patients with stroke is not well defined.

Methods: We randomized 4731 patients with recent stroke or transient ischemic attack and no known coronary heart disease to atorvastatin 80 mg per day or placebo.

Results: After 4.9 years, at each level of LDL-C reduction, subjects with HDL-C value above the median or systolic BP below the median had greater reductions in stroke and major cardiovascular events and those with a reduction in triglycerides above the median or diastolic BP below the median showed similar trends. There were no statistical interactions between on-treatment LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and BP values. In a further exploratory analysis, optimal control was defined as LDL-C <70 mg per deciliter, HDL-C >50 mg per deciliter, triglycerides <150 mg per deciliter, and SBP/DBP <120/80 mm Hg. The risk of stroke decreased with as the level of control increased (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.98 [0.76 to 1.27], 0.78 [0.61 to 0.99], 0.62 [0.46 to 0.84], and 0.35 [0.13 to 0.96]) for those achieving optimal control of 1, 2, 3, or 4 factors as compared to none, respectively. Results were similar for major cardiovascular events.

Conclusions: We found a cumulative effect of achieving optimal levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and BP on the risk of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events. The protective effect of having a higher HDL-C was maintained at low levels of LDL-C.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Atorvastatin
  • Blood Pressure / physiology*
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Female
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / physiopathology
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / epidemiology
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / pathology
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use*
  • Risk Factors
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Stroke / epidemiology
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Stroke / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Pyrroles
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Atorvastatin