CNN: Statins lower risk of deadliest kind of stroke

A new study shows that the use of drugs called statins can decrease the risk of stroke caused by intracerebral hemorrhages (ICH), which occur when a blood vessel bursts inside the brain and causes bleeding in the brain. ICH strokes are the most deadly and second most common form of stroke.

Research previously found the benefit of statins to reduce the risk of ischemic strokes, the most common form of stroke which occur when a blood clot prevents oxygen from flowing to the brain. 

The University of Cincinnati's Pooja Khatri, MD, was not involved in the study and commented on the findings to CNN.

"Studies like this latest one sort of put the nail in the coffin because they’re larger and they’re so comprehensive and population-based," said Khatri, professor of neurology and director of the vascular neurology division in the UC College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Sciences; co-director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute Stroke Center of Excellence and the NIH StrokeNet National Coordinating Center housed at UC; as well as a UC Health physician. "This study tells me that if a patient has never had a stroke and they have indications, a statin is definitely a good idea. “It makes us think that we are right to be certain that overall, patients are better off on statins.”

Read the CNN story.

Featured photo at top of MRI brain scan. Photo/Ravenna Rutledge/University of Cincinnati.