Statin In Stroke: Are We Using It Properly?

• Debabrata Chakraborty*

Abstract

Stroke is on the rise in every corner of the world, especially in the young population. Dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for stroke which we can modify confidently if we pay more attention towards it. It is nowadays more prevalent in young population owing to a sedentary lifestyle, change in diet pattern, prevalence of smoking and alcoholism. The familial dyslipidaemia syndrome is an additional risk factor for the young population. The study from south India found that over 85% of the urban population and 78.5% of rural residents have dyslipidaemia. But are we using statin to enough extent to tackle this issue in the young population? In fact, lack of use of risk scores is leading to underutilization and inappropriate dosing of statins. According to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, a target LDL cholesterol level of less than 2.0 mmol/Litre or a 50% reduction is targeted for people who are being treated to reduce the risk of stroke and death. According to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, a target of less than 1.8 mmol/Litre is recommended. The guidelines already recommend statin therapy for those with LDL-C greater than or equal to 160 mg/dl amongst 20-39-year-old population and if there is a family history of early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Eating foods low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol and high in fibre can help prevent high cholesterol. LDL-C is the most useful serum lipid marker for predicting the risk of stroke. We need to think about health policies to screen for dyslipidaemia in the young population and start treatment at earliest to reduce the incidence of vascular events. Follow up of this targeted population with lipid levels at proper intervals and ensuring of drug-adherence is necessary to save lives.

Keywords

Stroke , Statin,Dyslipidaemia

Ahead of Print Date : 2024-04-09