Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.

<h4>Background</h4>The role played by total cholesterol (TC) in risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unclear because studies report both high and low TC each as a risk factor. We performed a systematic review to clarify associations between lipid profile and SAH.<h4>Methods<...

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Main Authors: Joni Valdemar Lindbohm, Jaakko Kaprio, Miikka Korja
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152568
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author Joni Valdemar Lindbohm
Jaakko Kaprio
Miikka Korja
author_facet Joni Valdemar Lindbohm
Jaakko Kaprio
Miikka Korja
author_sort Joni Valdemar Lindbohm
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>The role played by total cholesterol (TC) in risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unclear because studies report both high and low TC each as a risk factor. We performed a systematic review to clarify associations between lipid profile and SAH.<h4>Methods</h4>Our literature search comprised Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases with no language, publication year, or study type limitations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist guided our reporting. Data forms adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP), and Cochrane Collaboration guidelines provided a platform for risk-of-bias evaluation. We used a random effects model to calculate pooled estimates and assessed heterogeneity with I2-statistics.<h4>Results</h4>Of the final 21 studies reviewed, 12 were prospective and 9 retrospective. All studies assessed TC, four assessed HDL, and none LDL in risk for SAH. Heterogeneity among all, retrospective, and Asian studies was high (I2 = 79.5%, I2 = 89.0%, and I2 = 84.3%) and considerable in prospective (I2 = 46.0%). We therefore focused on qualitative analysis and found that only two studies had a low risk of bias. According to these studies high TC increases risk for SAH in men, whereas the role of HDL remained unclear.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The low-risk-of-bias studies suggest that elevated TC levels elevate risk for SAH in men. Due to the high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, population attributable risk (PAR) of hypercholesterolemia may exceed the PARs of smoking and hypertension in men. Apart from diabetes and obesity, the risk-factor profile of SAH seems to resemble that of other cerebrovascular diseases, at least in men.
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spelling doaj-art-e2d28f637f2e4ad7b706049fe24ce2ff2025-08-20T03:14:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01114e015256810.1371/journal.pone.0152568Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.Joni Valdemar LindbohmJaakko KaprioMiikka Korja<h4>Background</h4>The role played by total cholesterol (TC) in risk for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is unclear because studies report both high and low TC each as a risk factor. We performed a systematic review to clarify associations between lipid profile and SAH.<h4>Methods</h4>Our literature search comprised Pubmed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases with no language, publication year, or study type limitations. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist guided our reporting. Data forms adapted from the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP), and Cochrane Collaboration guidelines provided a platform for risk-of-bias evaluation. We used a random effects model to calculate pooled estimates and assessed heterogeneity with I2-statistics.<h4>Results</h4>Of the final 21 studies reviewed, 12 were prospective and 9 retrospective. All studies assessed TC, four assessed HDL, and none LDL in risk for SAH. Heterogeneity among all, retrospective, and Asian studies was high (I2 = 79.5%, I2 = 89.0%, and I2 = 84.3%) and considerable in prospective (I2 = 46.0%). We therefore focused on qualitative analysis and found that only two studies had a low risk of bias. According to these studies high TC increases risk for SAH in men, whereas the role of HDL remained unclear.<h4>Conclusion</h4>The low-risk-of-bias studies suggest that elevated TC levels elevate risk for SAH in men. Due to the high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, population attributable risk (PAR) of hypercholesterolemia may exceed the PARs of smoking and hypertension in men. Apart from diabetes and obesity, the risk-factor profile of SAH seems to resemble that of other cerebrovascular diseases, at least in men.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152568
spellingShingle Joni Valdemar Lindbohm
Jaakko Kaprio
Miikka Korja
Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
PLoS ONE
title Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
title_full Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
title_fullStr Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
title_full_unstemmed Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
title_short Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review.
title_sort cholesterol as a risk factor for subarachnoid hemorrhage a systematic review
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152568
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AT jaakkokaprio cholesterolasariskfactorforsubarachnoidhemorrhageasystematicreview
AT miikkakorja cholesterolasariskfactorforsubarachnoidhemorrhageasystematicreview