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(Stroke. 2009;40:2486.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Relative and Cumulative Effects of Lipid and Blood Pressure Control in the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels Trial

Pierre Amarenco, MD; Larry B. Goldstein, MD; Michael Messig, MD; Blair J. O'Neill, MD; Alfred Callahan, III, MD; Henrik Sillesen, MD; Michael G. Hennerici, MD; Justin A. Zivin, MD; K.M.A. Welch, MD on behalf of the SPARCL Investigators

From INSERM U-698 and Denis Diderot University (P.A.), Paris, France; Duke University Medical Center (L.B.G.), Durham, NC; Pfizer (M.M.), New York; Dalhousie University of Alberta (B.J.O’N.), Canada; Neurologic Consultants (A.C.), Nashville, Tennessee; University of Copenhagen (H.S.), Denmark; University of Heidelberg (M.G.H.), Mannheim, Germany; University of California (J.A.Z.), San Diego; Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (K.M.A.W.), North Chicago, Ill.

Correspondence to Pierre Amarenco, MD, INSERM U-698 and Denis Diderot University-Paris VII, Department of Neurology and Stroke Centre, Bichat University Hospital, 46, rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. E-mail pierre.amarenco{at}bch.aphp.fr

Background and Purpose— The relative contributions of on-treatment low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, HDL-C), triglycerides, and blood pressure (BP) control on the risk of recurrent stroke or major cardiovascular events in patients with stroke is not well defined.

Methods— We randomized 4731 patients with recent stroke or transient ischemic attack and no known coronary heart disease to atorvastatin 80 mg per day or placebo.

Results— After 4.9 years, at each level of LDL-C reduction, subjects with HDL-C value above the median or systolic BP below the median had greater reductions in stroke and major cardiovascular events and those with a reduction in triglycerides above the median or diastolic BP below the median showed similar trends. There were no statistical interactions between on-treatment LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and BP values. In a further exploratory analysis, optimal control was defined as LDL-C <70 mg per deciliter, HDL-C >50 mg per deciliter, triglycerides <150 mg per deciliter, and SBP/DBP <120/80 mm Hg. The risk of stroke decreased with as the level of control increased (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.98 [0.76 to 1.27], 0.78 [0.61 to 0.99], 0.62 [0.46 to 0.84], and 0.35 [0.13 to 0.96]) for those achieving optimal control of 1, 2, 3, or 4 factors as compared to none, respectively. Results were similar for major cardiovascular events.

Conclusions— We found a cumulative effect of achieving optimal levels of LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, and BP on the risk of recurrent stroke and major cardiovascular events. The protective effect of having a higher HDL-C was maintained at low levels of LDL-C.

Key Words: stroke • TIA • LDL-C • HDL-C • triglyceride • statin