The COMPARISON OF LIPID LOWERING EFFECT OF ATORVASTATIN VERSUS ROSUVASTATIN IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE

Abstract

Background: The decision between atorvastatin and rosuvastatin is frequently dependent on clinician choice, expenditure, or tolerability instead of strong analytical data. By determining which statin works best in actual clinical situations, this study would help develop tailored treatment plans for ischemic stroke patients, perhaps leading to better long-term results.

Objective: To compare the mean reduction in lipid profile with atorvastatin versus rosuvastatin in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: This randomized trial enrolled 308 ischemic stroke patients were at the Department of Neurology, PIMS, Islamabad (154 in each group) and assessed them lipid lowering effect after eight weeks of treatment with oral atorvastatin 10 mg or rosuvastatin 5mg at night. Baseline and 8-week follow up lipid profile (LDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol) was assessed. SPSS version 26 was used to analyse the data.

Results: The mean reduction in cholesterol was 86.4±8.6 mg/dl in the atorvastatin group versus 85.7±9.1 mg/dl in the rosuvastatin group (p=0.485). Similarly, LDL reduction (60.1±6.8 vs. 59.3±7.1 mg/dl, p=0.310) and triglyceride reduction (77.6±11.5 vs. 77.6±11.9 mg/dl, p=0.998) showed no significant differences between groups. Stratified analysis revealed consistent findings across all demographic and clinical subgroups, with no significant differences observed for any variable (all p>0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with ischemic stroke, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin showed similar lipid-lowering effectiveness with no appreciable variations in the mean decrease of cholesterol, LDL, or triglycerides.

Key words: Ischemic Stroke, Atorvastatin, Rosuvastatin, Lipid Lowering Effect