Treatment with atorvastatin (Lipitor®) seems to reduce the risk of stroke and heart-related health events in older patients who have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, according to an analysis published online September 3 in the journal Neurology.

Previous analysis of atorvastatin showed benefit in reducing stroke among younger stroke patients. Led by physicians from Wayne State University in Michigan, researchers analyzed information from the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol levels (SPARCL) trial to determine whether patients aged 65 years and older would also benefit. They compared outcomes between 2,249 patients in this older age group and 2,482 in a younger age group and found no significant differences in stroke reduction.

The findings of this study suggest that health care professionals should strongly consider the use of atorvastatin or other statin drugs after stroke or TIA in elderly patients, even if these patients do not have a prior history of coronary artery disease.