Lipitor and stroke prevention
Recently made study for secondary prevention of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) with the use of 80mg of Lipitor compared with placebo, has shown good results. The study involved 4731 patients, of whom 16% have diabetes.
It has been noticed that Lipitor reduced a risk of ischemic stroke to rather great level. Importantly, there was no significant difference in fatal hemorrhagic strokes among the treatment group and the placebo group. Thus, the results have formed the basis for new recommendations for more stringent goal of reducing LDL cholesterol in patients from groups of very high risk for primary and secondary prevention of stroke. These studies have demonstrated that lowering LDL cholesterol <1.8 mmol/l should be regarded as a target category of very high cardiovascular risk.
The American Diabetes Association proposes to use such LDL level for patients with diabetes and established cardiovascular complications. Diabetes type-2 refers to states with high cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk. It is characterized by rapid, aggressive course of atherosclerosis in all vascular regions. Based on the results of large studies using statins, the question arises about the advisability of the appointment of this highly effective and safe drug virtually to every patient with diabetes type 2, in particular in the presence of cardiovascular disease or multiple risk factors.