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Statins may reduce risk of recurrent vascular events in young stroke patients
Young adults treated with a statin after a first ischemic stroke of undetermined cause were 77% less likely to suffer subsequent vascular events, according to a recent study published in Neurology.
Young adults treated with a statin after a first ischemic stroke of undetermined cause were 77% less likely to suffer subsequent vascular events, according to a recent study published in Neurology.
To investigate the use of statins in young adults and their effect on the risk for subsequent vascular events, investigators at the Helsinki University Central Hospital selected 215 patients with an unknown etiology, comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, and information on statin use during the follow-up from a database of 1,008 consecutive patients aged 15 to 49 years with first-ever ischemic stroke between 1994 and 2007. The outcome measure was the composite vascular endpoint of any stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or other arterial occlusive event, revascularization, or vascular death.
Investigators recorded statin use at discharge and at a later follow-up. If an outcome event or death occurred, the investigators recorded statin use prior to the event or prior to death if the death was due to something other than the defined vascular causes.
Of the 215 patients included, one third (33%) received a statin at some point after their stroke. Most patients took simvastatin (58%). These patients were likely to be older, have a poorer lipid profile, and have hypertension. Twenty-nine (20%) events occurred among the patients never on a statin. Those not treated with a statin were likely to be younger, have a more favorable lipid profile, and to exhibit a low frequency of traditional risk factors. There were no events among those on a continuous statin; there were 4 (11%) among those who had discontinued a statin. After adjustment for age, high blood pressure, and blood-pressure medication use, these patients were less likely to experience vascular events (HR=0.23; 95% CI, 0.08–0.66; P=.006).
The authors note that additional factors, such as more aggressive secondary prevention, may have played a role in the better outcome of the statin-treated patients. However, the authors concluded that unknown stroke etiology in a young adult should not prevent clinicians from initiating statin treatment.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
