9 Feb 2024 • A debate over whether statins increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke has long existed. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has now identified a small increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke events with LDL‐C–lowering therapies.

• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol–lowering therapies, especially statins, were associated with a modest increase in hemorrhagic stroke risk (RR 1.17), notably higher in patients with a history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (RR 1.46) and those aged ≥65 years (RR 1.34).
• In contrast, no clear indication of an elevated risk was found with triglyceride-lowering therapies (RR 1.05).

For nonstatin therapies, such as ezetimibe or PCSK‐9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitors, the evidence was too weak to draw conclusions regarding a potential increase in risk.

Source: JAHA | Read full story