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Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide. The rates of stroke are increasing in less affluent countries predominantly because of a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. The Lipid Association of India (LAI) has provided a risk stratification algorithm for patients with ischaemic stroke and recommended low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals for those in very high risk group and extreme risk group (category A) of <50 mg/dl (1.3 mmol/l) while the LDL-C goal for extreme risk group (category B) is ≤30 mg/dl (0.8 mmol/l). High intensity statins are the first-line lipid lowering therapy. Nonstatin therapy like ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors may be added as an adjunct to statins in patients who do not achieve LDL-C goals with statins alone. In acute ischaemic stroke, high intensity statin therapy improves neurological and functional outcomes regardless of thrombolytic therapy. Although conflicting data exist regarding increased risk of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) with statin use, the overall benefit risk ratio favors long-term statin therapy necessitating detailed discussion with the patient. Patients who have statins withdrawn while being on prior statin therapy at the time of acute ischaemic stroke have worse functional outcomes and increased mortality. LAI recommends that statins be continued in such patients. In patients presenting with ICH, statins should not be started in the acute phase but should be continued in patients who are already taking statins. ICH patients, once stable, need risk stratification for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Introduction: Cerebrovascular disorders (CVD) are increasing in prevalence and incidence in Indian population. Global burden of disease study shows that of the 9.4 million deaths in India, 619,000 were due to stroke. A matter of concern is that in the last two decades there is a significant increase in prevalence rate of stroke., Aim: To find the demographic characteristics along with clinico-radiological profile and of patients presenting with stroke in a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan., Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted for a period of 6 months from Aug 2015 to Jan 2016 in a tertiary care hospital .A sample size of 360 patients with aged >18 years were recruited after obtaining written consent from those who attended the medical OPD or were admitted to the government hospital with the newly diagnosed stroke and confirmed by neuroimaging., Result: The mean age of stroke in present study was 60.46 ± 14.84 years. The stroke in the young age group defined as 40 years or less comprised only 6%. Hypertension as a risk factor was present in 52.5% of our patients followed by Dyslipidaemia (25.8%). 79.4% had ischemic stroke and 19.4 % haemorrhagic stroke. Supratentorial lesions were seen in 86.4% patients, infratentorial lesions in only 10% anterior circulation strokes (MCA>ACA) are more common than posterior circulation strokes. Motor and sensory symptoms are common in acute strokes rather than change in consciousness or speech abnormalities. 70.2% patients had moderate disability at the end of 28 days. Early presentation to hospital (<3hrs) is associated with better outcome and less morbidity in a stroke patient., (© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.)