(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People over the age of 65 can benefit from cholesterol lowering drugs following a stroke or mini-stroke, according to a new study. However, researchers found seniors are less likely to be prescribed these medications.
Researchers from Wayne State University looked at about 4,700 stroke patients, dividing them into two age groups. Younger patients were all under age 65 while the older patients were 65 or older. About half of the patients in each group were prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug following their stroke. All were followed for about four and a half years.
The drugs lowered cholesterol on average 61 points in the older patients and 59 points in the younger patients. Younger patients taking the drugs had about a 26 percent reduced risk of having another stroke or mini-stroke. Older patients saw their risk decline by 10 percent.
"It's estimated that 20 percent of the U.S. population will be 65 or older by 2010, so it's important that we identify ways to reduce the burden of strokes and other cerebrovascular diseases in this group," study author Seemant Chaturvedi, M.D., was quoted as saying. "This is a step in that direction."
SOURCE: Neurology, published online September 3, 2008
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