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Patricia R. Hebert, PhD; J. Michael Gaziano, MD, MPH; Charles H. Hennekens, MD, DrPH

Arch Intern Med. 1995;155(1):50-55.

Abstract
Background
While blood cholesterol level predicts coronary heart disease, whether there is any association with the risk of stroke is unclear. Some, but not all, observational studies suggest that cholesterol level predicts risk of stroke, particularly ischemic stroke. This hypothesis is attractive because ischemic events constitute the vast majority of all strokes and, like coronary heart disease, involve atherogenic processes.

Methods
To investigate whether lipid lowering reduces the risk of stroke, we performed an overview of randomized trials that included more than 36000 individuals.

Results
The mean reduction in cholesterol level in the treated as compared with the control subjects ranged from 6% to 23%. Those assigned to treatment experienced no significant reduction in all (fatal plus nonfatal) stroke (relative risk, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8 to 1.2) or fatal stroke (1.1; 0.8 to 1.6).

Conclusions
The confidence interval for fatal stroke is wide, and alternative hypotheses, including either a small protective or harmful effect, cannot be excluded; however, the point estimates are compatible with no benefit of cholesterol lowering on the risk of stroke. Additional large-scale randomized trials assessing total mortality would more definitively address any benefits on stroke, as well as any excess nonvascular causes of mortality, for which risks of cholesterol lowering also remain uncertain.

(Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:50-55)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Preventive Medicine (Drs Hebert, Gaziano, and Hennekens) and the Cardiovascular Division (Dr Gaziano), Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School (Dr Hennekens); and Department of Medicine, Brockton/West Roxbury Veterans Affairs Medical Center, West Roxbury, Mass (Dr Gaziano).

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