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When patients with stroke are admitted to the hospital, their previous medications may be withheld — often for good reasons, but sometimes for no particular reason. In this study, Spanish researchers sought to determine whether withholding previously prescribed statins can be harmful.
Of 215 patients admitted with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke, 89 had been taking statins before the stroke. These 89 patients were randomized to continue statin therapy (atorvastatin, 20 mg daily for 3 days) or to interrupt therapy. Patients who were unable to swallow received the drug through nasogastric tubes. After 3 days, all patients received atorvastatin.
At 3 months, death or dependency was significantly more likely among patients who were withdrawn fr…