The role of total and LDL-cholesterol as independent risk factors of ischemic stroke remains uncertain.
The aim of this hospital
based prospective observational study is to investigate the association between total and LDL cholesterol levels and ischaemic
stroke in Emirates patients admitted to hospital between June 2007 and June 2009 with atherothrombotic stroke.
One hundred
and seventy one Emirati patients, 89 males and 82 females with acute ischemic stroke were diagnosed and investigated for risk
factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac diseases, cigarettes smoking and past history of transient ischemic
attack (TIA) and past history of stroke.
Exclusion criteria were patients with acute or chronic atrial fibrillation and patients
receiving "statins". Brain CT scan, echocardiogram and carotid ultrasound were done on hospital admission.
One hundred and
twelve patients (65.5%) had hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol level ≥ 5.2 mmole/L, LDL cholesterol ≥ 4.2 mmole/L).
One
hundred and thirty patients (76.0%) were hypertensive. Ninety patients (52.8%) were diabetic. Twenty two (12.9%) were heavy
smokers.
Fifty patients (29.2%) had past history of cardiac disease.
Twenty eight patients (16.4%) had previous stroke Twelve
patients (12%) had TIA. Out of the one hundred and twelve patients with hypercholesterolemia nine patients (5%) only had
isolated hypercholesterolemia.
The commonest risk factor associated with hypercholesterolemia is hypertension (78.8%).
In
conclusion, the results of this study do not support the association between isolated hypercholesterolemia and atherothrombotic
stroke. Hypercholesterolemia is not an independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke but it can interact with other risk factors
mainly hypertension to promote atherosclerosis.
https://print.ispub.com/api/0/ispub-article/7034
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