Objective:
To determine whether statin use is associated with improved discharge disposition after ischemic stroke.
Methods:
We analyzed 12,689 patients with ischemic stroke over a 7 year period at 17 hospitals in Kaiser Permanente Northern California. We used multivariable generalized ordinal logistic regression and instrumental variable analysis of treatment patterns by hospital to control for the possibility of confounding.
Results:
Statin users before and during stroke hospitalization were more likely to be discharged home (54.9% for statin users, 46.3% for statin non-users) and less likely to die in hospital (5.3% for statin users, 10.3% for statin non-users). Patients who underwent statin withdrawal in-hospital were less likely to be discharged home (39.1% for statin withdrawal, 54.9% for statin continuation) and more likely to die in hospital (22.3% for statin withdrawal, 5.3% for statin continuation). Users of higher statin doses (>60 mg / day) were even more likely to be discharged home (62.5% for high dose statin, 56.5% for usual dose statin, and 47.4% for no statin) and less likely to die in hospital in-hospital (3.5% for high dose statin, 5.6% for usual dose statin, and 10.6% for no statin). These results were confirmed by multivariable analysis. The association of statin use and improved outcomes was also confirmed by instrumental variable analysis of treatment patterns by hospital, and thus this association cannot be explained by confounding at the individual patient level.
Conclusions:
Statin use is associated with improved discharge disposition after ischemic stroke, particularly at higher doses.
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