• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Cardiology

Lipid lowering drugs in the elderly may decrease stroke risk

byAdarsh ManjunathandRavi Shah
May 19, 2015
in Cardiology, Chronic Disease, Neurology
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Elderly patients with no history of vascular events who took statins or fibrates for primary prevention experienced an over 30% reduction in the risk of stroke.

2. No similar association was found between lipid lowering drug use and coronary heart disease.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)      

Study Rundown: Abundant studies exist that demonstrate the benefit of statins for people with a history of cardiovascular disease. Specifically, people experience a reduction in major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. However, whether statins have any benefit in the primary prevention of these events, specifically in the elderly who are most at risk, is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of lipid lowering drugs, such as statins and fibrates, on the incidence of coronary heart disease and strokes when used as primary prevention in nearly 7,500 elderly French residents (>65 years) who had no history of vascular events. Compared to non-users of the medications, lipid lowering drug users were in fact at an over 30% decreased risk of stroke over an average of 9 years. A similar effect was not observed for coronary heart disease.

This study benefited from being able to prospectively collect data on a large population of French residents. Additionally, vascular events were validated; for example, stroke events were confirmed with brain imaging and so the results are more reliable. However, the results may not be generalizable to the entire French population or the United States because the participants in the three cities where the study took place were generally more educated and had higher economic statuses. They also led relatively healthy lifestyles, which could have reduced their risk of cardiovascular events in the study. Overall, the study suggests that elderly people with no prior history of vascular events can benefit from statins or fibrates as a means of decreasing their risk of stroke.

Click to read the study, published today in the BMJ

Click to read an accompanying editorial in the BMJ

RELATED REPORTS

Stroke may be associated with sleep disturbances in adults

Transcarotid artery revascularization not associated with a significant difference in 30-day risk of stroke, death and myocardial infarction compared to carotid endarterectomy

Drinking characteristics in adolescence predict alcohol behaviors in early adulthood

Relevant Reading: Cardiovascular drug therapy in the elderly: benefits and challenges

In-Depth [prospective cohort]: This study looked to determine whether any benefit existed for elderly people with no prior vascular history to take statins or fibrates as primary prevention against cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events. In particular, they looked at 7,484 men and women with a mean age 73.9 years in 3 different French cities between 1999-2001. With an average 9.1 year follow-up period, the authors conducted face-to-face examinations every two years and gathered a great deal of demographic and medical information. Specifically, 2,048 people used either statins (13.5%) or fibrates (13.8%). The risk of stroke was reduced by 34% in people on these medications (HR 0.66, CI95% 0.49-0.90) compared to non-users. This reduced risk was similar with both statins and fibrates. In contrast, the risk of coronary heart disease was no lower for lipid lowering drug users (HR 1.12, CI95% 0.90-1.40). Analyses were then stratified by a number of variables, including age, body mass index, history of hypertension and triglyceride levels, and no effect modification was observed.

Image: CC

©2015 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Previous Post

Improved cancer risk stratification using breast density

Next Post

Amyloid pathology may be detected decades prior to Alzheimer’s diagnosis

RelatedReports

Sleep duration, sleepiness, chronotype have variable associations with teen self-regulation
Chronic Disease

Stroke may be associated with sleep disturbances in adults

March 25, 2023
Patient Basics: Thrombotic Stroke
Imaging and Intervention

Transcarotid artery revascularization not associated with a significant difference in 30-day risk of stroke, death and myocardial infarction compared to carotid endarterectomy

March 24, 2023
Greater prenatal alcohol exposure trajectories linked to impaired growth and neurodevelopment
Chronic Disease

Drinking characteristics in adolescence predict alcohol behaviors in early adulthood

March 24, 2023
Endocrinology

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors may decrease risk of in-stent thrombosis

March 24, 2023
Next Post
Amyloid pathology may be detected decades prior to Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Amyloid pathology may be detected decades prior to Alzheimer’s diagnosis

Stereotactic radiosurgery may effectively treat facial nerve schwannoma

Stereotactic radiosurgery may effectively treat facial nerve schwannoma

High-flow oxygen therapy as effective as BiPAP in preventing reintubation

High-flow oxygen therapy as effective as BiPAP in preventing reintubation

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Stroke may be associated with sleep disturbances in adults
  • Transcarotid artery revascularization not associated with a significant difference in 30-day risk of stroke, death and myocardial infarction compared to carotid endarterectomy
  • Drinking characteristics in adolescence predict alcohol behaviors in early adulthood
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options