14 Nov 2025 • Long-term data from the FOURIER and FOURIER-OLE trials show that in patients with prior ischemic stroke, lowering LDL-C to <40 mg/dL was tied to a markedly lower risk of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events, without raising hemorrhagic stroke risk.

In more than 5,000 patients followed for up to 7 years, those reaching very low LDL-C saw a 31% reduction in primary endpoint (IRR 0.69), a 27% reduction in stroke (IRR 0.73), and a 25% reduction in ischemic stroke (IRR 0.75) compared with those ≥70 mg/dL. Event rates declined stepwise as LDL-C levels fell.

The findings reinforce the role of intensive lipid lowering in secondary stroke prevention, supporting very low LDL-C targets when safely achievable in patients with established cerebrovascular disease.

Source: Journal of the American Heart Association | Read Full Story