Total and LDL cholesterol as risk factors of ischemic stroke in Emirati patients

Abstract

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.