Levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol, are inversely associated with stroke risk in elderly men. Researchers form the Pacific Health Research Institute, Honolulu, examined the association between HDL cholesterol levels and stroke risk in 2,444 men between the ages of 71 and 93 years. The investigators measured levels of HDL cholesterol at examinations between 1991 and 1993 and followed the men through the end of 1998. One hundred thirty-seven strokes, which occurred during follow-up, were attributable to either a blood clot (89 cases) or bleeding in the brain (48 cases). No association was found between HDL cholesterol and strokes caused by bleeding in the brain. However, the incidence of stroke caused by blood clots in the brain declined with increasing HDL cholesterol levels. The team found a 2.7-fold increased risk of a blood clot-related stroke among men with low HDL cholesterol levels compared with those with high levels. The risk of clot-related stroke declined as HDL cholesterol levels increased for men with normal total cholesterol concentrations and for men with high blood pressure or diabetes. The findings indicate that HDL cholesterol is an important risk factor for clot-related stroke in the elderly.
American Journal of Epidemiology ,
August 2004