A recent study suggests that people who take statins, which are cholesterol-lowering medications, may be less likely to experience an intracerebral hemorrhage, a kind of stroke. Brain hemorrhage is the cause of an intracerebral hemorrhage.

"While statins have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke from blood clots, there has been conflicting research on whether statin use increases or decreases the risk of a person having a first intracerebral hemorrhage," said study author David Gaist, MD, PhD, of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "For our study, we looked at the lobe and non-lobe areas of the brain to see if location was a factor for statin use and the risk of a first intracerebral hemorrhage. We found that those who used a statin had a lower risk of this type of bleeding stroke in both areas of the brain. The risk was even lower with long-term statin use."

The majority of the cerebrum, comprising the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, is located in the lobe region of the brain. The brainstem, thalamus, cerebellum, and basal ganglia are the main components of the non-lobe region.

In order to conduct the study, researchers examined Danish medical records and found 989 patients—mean age of 76—who had experienced an intracerebral hemorrhage in the brain's lobe region. They were contrasted with 39,500 individuals who were comparable in age, sex, and other characteristics but did not have this kind of stroke.

Additionally, 1,175 individuals with an average age of 75 who suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage in a non-lobe area of the brain were examined. They were contrasted with 46,755 individuals who were comparable in age, sex, and other characteristics but did not have this kind of stroke.

Prescription data was used by researchers to gather data on statin use.

Statins had been taken for five years or more by 6.8% of the total individuals who experienced a stroke, compared to 8.6% of those who did not.

Researchers discovered that those using statins had a 17% lower risk of stroke in the brain's lobe regions and a 16% lower risk in the brain's non-lobe regions after controlling for variables like high blood pressure, diabetes, and alcohol consumption.

Extended usage of statins has been linked to a decreased risk of stroke in both cerebral regions. Individuals who used statins for more than five years experienced a 33% reduction in the risk of lobe stroke and a 38% reduction in non-lobe stroke risk.

"It's reassuring news for people taking statins that these medications seem to reduce the risk of bleeding stroke as well as the risk of stroke from blood clots," Gaist added. "However, our research was done in only the Danish population, which is primarily people of European ancestry. More research should be conducted in other populations."

The study was supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation.

It is important that people at high risk of a heart attack or stroke take their prescribed medication. Individuals can assess their cardiovascular risk and find information about how to reduce it using the Heart Age Tool, developed by the BHF, Public Health England, NHS Choices and Joint British Societies.

If someone is unsure about their heart medicines, they can speak with their GP

Source: American Academy of Neurology (December 7, 2022), British Heart Foundation website (October, 2023), Photo by Karolina Grabowska

 

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