The prognostic significance of the lipid profile after an ischemic stroke

Background The role that cholesterol levels play in stroke is still uncertain, especially in secondary prevention. The aim was to determine how a comprehensive analysis of the lipid profile can be associated with post-stroke outcomes. Consecutive patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke were included in our cohort and followed up for 24months. Baseline clinical and demographic data were collected as well as a complete lipid profile 6-months after the index stroke. Lipid variables were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Clinical outcomes included stroke recurrence, major cardiovascular events, and functional performance (assessed with the modified Rankin scale). Results The study included 588 patients with an average age of 58.3 years. There were 148 (25.2%) patients with high total cholesterol, 260 (44.2%) with low HDL, 180 (30.6%) with high LDL, and 204 (34.7%) with high triglycerides. There were 164 (27.9%) patients with no abnormalities in the lipid profile. After the follow-up, 108 (18.3%) had another stroke, 32 (5.4%) had major cardiovascular events, and 360 (61.2%) presented good functional outcomes. A higher LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and a low HDL-C level were significantly associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes. The detection of LDL-C > 70 mg/dL was an independent predictor of a higher risk of stroke recurrence and worse functional performance. The greater the number of altered lipid variables, the greater the chance of developing an unfavorable composite outcome and presenting cardiovascular events after the stroke. Conclusions The complete analysis of the lipid panel allows the determination of the prognosis of patients who suffered a stroke.