Statins, or cholesterol-lowering drugs, are known to reduce the risk of strokes as well as heart attacks for many patients. But what has been unclear is the timing of when a statin treatment should be started to improve the outcome. A new study suggests giving statins to people during stroke hospitalization increases their likelihood of returning home and lessen their chance of dying.
Researchers led by Alexander C. Flint of Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, California, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology, examined the records of 12,689 people admitted to a Kaiser Permanente hospital in northern California with an ischemic stroke over a seven-year period. The statin use of the study subjects before and during stroke hospitalization were determined from their electronic medical records.
According to the study, 57 percent of the people who used statins before and during their hospital stay returned home compared to 47 percent of those who did not use statins. Six percent of those who used statins before and during the hospital stay died in the hospital, compared to 11 percent of the non-users.
Commenting on the relationship between statin use and improved discharge disposition, Flint said, "There are a multitude of benefits to returning directly home after experiencing a stroke for the patient and the family, both functionally and financially."
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