Aims:

The relationship between hypocholesterolemia and increased incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. Several studies have resulted in contradicting outcomes. We tried to find whether hypocholesterolemia confers an increased risk of ICH or not.

Methods:

This cross-sectional and observational study was carried out at the Shorsh Military General Hospital, Iraq. From April 1, 2014, to October 31, 2016, 93 consecutive patients who had developed their first-ever hypertensive ICH were included in the study. Patients were age and gender-matched with the control group. Serum lipid levels assessment was done in all patients within 24 hours of hospital admission.

Results:

Out of the 93 patients with ICH, 71 (76%) were male. Females were younger than males (mean age, years: 54±12.4 vs. 59±9.2). In the intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke group (ICHSG), hypocholesterolemia (serum total cholesterol <131 mg/dl) was found in 5 out of 71 males as well as 3 out of 22 females, whereas 3 males and 3 females were hypocholesterolemic in the control group (CG). Serum total cholesterol level showed no significant difference between the ICHSG and CG. There was no statistically significant difference between males or females who had hypocholesterolemia. All hemorrhagic stroke patients were receiving a statin with an average duration of 4.2 years.

Conclusions:

In our study, the presence of ICH in hypertensive patients was not associated with hypocholesteremia. Further analytic studies are required to confirm this observation.

Keywords: hypocholesterolemia, intracerebral hemorrhage, hypertension, statin