The effect of statins on clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A propensity-score weighted analysis.
Publication/Presentation Date
11-16-2025
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effect of statins on outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) remains unclear. While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have not demonstrated consistent benefits, a key limitation is that these studies did not specifically examine patients already on statins prior to hemorrhage. This study aims to address this gap using a propensity-score weighted analysis.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients with aSAH treated between 2017 and 2023. Patients were grouped based on pre-admission statin use: 79 in the statin group and 284 in the non-statin group.
RESULTS: A total of 363 patients were included, with 79 in the statin group and 284 in the non-statin group. After adjustment, statin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of symptomatic vasospasm (OR = 0.23; 95 % CI, 0.05-0.95; p = 0.04). Statin use was also associated with lower odds of CTA/DSA-confirmed vasospasm, though this was not statistically significant (OR = 0.11; 95 % CI, 0.009-1.36; p = 0.08). There were no significant differences between groups in the incidence of hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement, mortality, or favorable functional outcome at discharge and at 30 days.
CONCLUSION: Chronic statin use prior to aSAH was associated with a significant reduction in symptomatic vasospasm. These findings highlight the importance of considering pre-ictal statin therapy when evaluating the role of statins in this setting and support further investigation in appropriately stratified populations. Given the small event rates and wide confidence intervals, these findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered hypothesis-generating.
Volume
260
First Page
109257
Last Page
109257
ISSN
1872-6968
Published In/Presented At
Musmar, B., Roy, J. M., Abdalrazeq, H., Chen, A. Y., Pontarelli, M. K., Patel, S., Tjoumakaris, S. I., Gooch, M. R., Rosenwasser, R. H., & Jabbour, P. (2025). The effect of statins on clinical outcomes in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: A propensity-score weighted analysis. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery, 260, 109257. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2025.109257
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
41265243
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article