Report: Statins Decrease Death Rate in Stroke Patients
New research has highlighted how stroke victims who fail to take their prescribed drugs are much more likely to die. In a limited study, which was carried out in Spain, it was found that when a patient's intake of statins - drugs designed to lower cholesterol - was disrupted, the risk of that patient subsequently dying, or needing permanent care, was almost five times as high. The research was published in the current edition of the Neurology journal.
However, the small pool of patients used in the Spanish study means experts are urging for trials on a larger scale to take place before any action is taken.
The article comes after a recent report published in the British Medical Journal, which focused on how the UK's stroke care compares pretty badly to the remainder of western Europe. With in excess of 60,000 instances recorded per annum, strokes are currently the 3rd most frequent reason for death in this country. Two years ago, it was suggested in a report issued by the National Audit Office that 550 stroke-associated deaths might be prevented if the care provided for patients was better regulated. The same, added the report, would be the case for 1,700 patients, who might then be expected to recover fully.
Current evidence already points to the reduced severity of strokes in those prescribed statins and taking them when the event occurs, due to the effect that the drugs have on blood flow. However, in this most recent of studies, a marked contrast was observed in the fate of patients permitted to continue taking statins after their stroke. The data used in the research was compiled by the University of Santiago de Compostella, who assessed 89 patients taking statins prior to having a stroke. Of this 89, 46 were taken off statins for the initial three post-stroke days, while 43 remained on them. Three months down the line, 60 per cent of the 46 had either passed away, or were physically impared to the extent that long-term care was necessary. Around 30 per cent of those who stayed on statins, by comparison, were in similar positions.
Commenting on the significance of this, Jose Castillo, the head researcher involved, stated: "These results strongly support the recommendation to physicians to continue statin drugs during the acute phase of an ischaemic stroke."
Despite this, in the eyes of Dr Anthony Rudd, a Consultant Stroke Physician at the London-based Guys' and St. Thomas' Hospital, the body of evidence compiled was simply not conclusive enough. "This is a very small study, and I think we'd need to see bigger studies before drawing any firm conclusions", he said.
Dr Rudd added that hospitals, in the main, permitted patients to carry on taking their present medication, but further described how: "One practical problem is that up to 30% of stroke patients have difficulty swallowing, and it may prove difficult for them to continue taking their tablets normally".
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Sub Editor
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