High serum total cholesterol levels as a risk factor of ischemic stroke in Asian individuals

Abstract

Evaluation of: Cui R, Iso H, Yamagishi K et al.; JPHC Study Group. High serum total cholesterol levels is a risk factor of ischemic stroke for general Japanese population: the JPHC study. Atherosclerosis 221(2), 565–569 (2012). An elevated cholesterol level is one of the established modifiable risk factors for secondary prevention of stroke. However, the stroke–cholesterol relationship remains a relatively weak relationship. Furthermore, the controversy regarding the optimal cholesterol level still persists. While elevated cholesterol levels are associated with higher risk for cerebral ischemic events, lower levels might increase the risk for hemorrhagic events. This study by Cui and colleagues presents robust large-scale epidemiological data regarding the association of elevated total cholesterol with the stroke risk among the Asian cohort. One of the important findings of this study is the relationship between elevated cholesterol and large artery atherosclerotic stroke. This is especially relevant in the Asian context, where large artery atherosclerosis constitutes more than half of all ischemic stroke subtypes. This paper reviews the study by Cui and colleagues regarding the role of high serum total cholesterol as a risk factor for ischemic stroke in Japanese men.