Low cholesterol levels are associated with increased stroke severity and increased short- and long-term death rates

This study was published in Cerebrovascular Diseases 2012 Sep 18;34(3):213-220

Study title and authors:
Low Cholesterol, Statins and Outcomes in Patients with First-Ever Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Koton S, Molshatzki N, Bornstein NM, Tanne D.
The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23006641

The study assessed the association between cholesterol levels and first-ever ischemic stroke short- and long-term outcomes. The study included 1,895 ischemic stroke patients, average age 67.4 years.

The study found:
(a) Low cholesterol levels were significantly associated with severe strokes.
(b) Patients with low cholesterol levels (less than 155 mg/dL or 4.0 mmol/L) had a 108% increased risk of death at discharge compared to patients with higher cholesterol levels.
(c) Patients with low cholesterol levels (less than 155 mg/dL or 4.0 mmol/L) had a 71% increased risk of death after three years compared to patients with higher cholesterol levels.

The results of the study show that low cholesterol levels are associated with increased stroke severity and increased short- and long-term death rates.