Cholesterol reducing medication prescribed to stroke patients at discharge

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes occur when the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. There are two classifications of strokes and the treatment may be different depending on the underlying cause of the stroke. A stroke can be hemorrhagic or ischemic. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Strokes require immediate medical attention. The sooner patients are treated for a stroke, the more likely they are to survive and have a better quality of life after the stroke.

A high level of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol is a risk factor for developing fatty deposits in the arteries, which can contribute to cardiac or vascular disease. LDL is “bad” cholesterol. Studies have shown that intensive LDL-lowering therapy using cholesterol-reducing medication (statins) can dramatically lower the chances of future strokes and heart attacks. A higher percentage may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percentage of ischemic stroke patients with an LDL level greater than 100, an LDL that has not been measured, or who were taking cholesterol-lowering therapy before hospitalization, who were discharged from the hospital on cholesterol-reducing drugs.

Note: In this case, a higher number is better.