Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Drug Combinations Could Help Prevent Stroke

Research presented during the ASA’s International Stroke Conference 2018 found that combining medication that lowers blood pressure with medication that lowers cholesterol significantly reduced the prevalence of first-time strokes. 

According to the press release, 75% of strokes are first time strokes and that reducing blood pressure and cholesterol lowers stroke risks; however, researchers have not previously analyzed the combined benefit of taking both drugs simultaneously. 

“These results indicate that to prevent stroke in those at moderate risk, blood pressure lowering plus cholesterol-lowering should be considered in those with elevated blood pressure, and cholesterol-lowering should definitely be considered for all,” Jackie Bosch, PhD, of the McMaster University in Canada, said in a press release. “These are existing drugs that are well-tolerated, have strong safety profiles, and it is easy for patients to stick with them.”

The research is from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study, which studied 12,705  patients from 21 countries with an average age of 66 years. Within the cohort there were 166 strokes over a study period of 5.6 years.

The researchers found that taking a daily dose of the blood pressure management drugs candesartan and hydrochlorothiazide in combination with Crestor (rosuvastatin; AstraZeneca) reduced first time strokes by 44% among high-risk patients. Furthermore, among patients with very high blood pressure, blood pressure management drugs reduced stroke by 42%. Additionally, when the researchers compared Crestor with placebo, strokes were reduced by 30%. 

“Drugs that lower blood pressure or cholesterol do indeed reduce stroke risk, but when combined, they offer even greater protection,” they wrote.

According to the press release, Dr Bosch and colleagues plan to develop a single pill that combines these drugs in order to make stroke prevention possible without taking multiple medications.

—David Costill