Abstract
Many studies have confirmed the positive effect of statins in the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke. Although several studies have concluded that statins may also be beneficial in patients with atrial fibrillation-related stroke, the results of those studies are inconclusive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pre-stroke statin therapy on atrial fibrillation-related stroke among patients with a well-controlled atrial fibrillation. This retrospective multicenter analysis comprised 2309 patients with acute stroke, with a total of 533 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. The results showed a significantly lower neurological deficit on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at hospital admission and discharge in the group of atrial fibrillation-related stroke patients who took statins before hospitalization compared with those who did not (p < 0.001). In addition, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the atrial fibrillation-related stroke patients not taking statins before hospitalization than in those who did (p < 0.001). Based on the results of our previous research and this current study, we postulate that the addition of a statin to the oral anticoagulants may be helpful in the primary prevention of atrial fibrillation-related stroke.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the main cardiac rhythm disorder
We examined the configuration of ischemic stroke risk factors in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) levels
In a following multicenter study, we examined the configuration of ischemic stroke (IS) risk factors in patients with NVAF that had been treated with NOACs, finding that AF patients treated with the NOACs displayed higher thrombotic, proatherogenic, and proinflammatory risk factors, in addition to the embolic risk closely associated with AF [24]
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the main cardiac rhythm disorder. An inadequate treatment or late detection may result in serious health complications such as ischemic stroke (IS).Currently, the prevalence of AF in the general population is age-dependent and varies from4% to 15% [1,2,3]. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the main cardiac rhythm disorder. An inadequate treatment or late detection may result in serious health complications such as ischemic stroke (IS). The prevalence of AF in the general population is age-dependent and varies from. As a result of systematic developments in medicine and the consequent increase in the lifespan of the general population, these percentages are expected to increase dramatically in the decade [4,5]. Old-generation oral anticoagulants (vitamin K antagonists, VKAs) or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOACs) are the most popular therapeutic options used to prevent embolic events in patients with AF. The use of VKAs reduces the risk of IS by 65%
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