Atorvastatin Use in Patients with History of Cerebrovascular Hemorrhage

Risk Assessment for Atorvastatin After Hemorrhagic Stroke

• In the SPARCL trial, high-dose atorvastatin (80mg) was associated with a higher incidence of hemorrhagic stroke (2.3%) compared to placebo (1.4%) 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Not accounting for the type of prior hemorrhagic stroke (lobar vs. deep) in risk assessment 2

Monitoring Recommendations

• Check lipid levels 4-12 weeks after initiating therapy and every 3-12 months thereafter, and target LDL-C levels of <70 mg/dL for patients with atherosclerotic disease 3

Risk Factors for Hemorrhagic Stroke with Atorvastatin

• Male sex is associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke with atorvastatin (HR 1.79) 4
• Advanced age is associated with a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke with atorvastatin (HR 1.42 per 10-year increment) 4
• Stage 2 hypertension is a risk factor for hemorrhagic stroke with atorvastatin 4