Twenty-seven RCTs (n=100,683) were included in the review. The sample sizes ranged from 100 to 20,536 participants.
The authors reported that 25 studies were double-blind. No other quality assessment criteria were reported.
Statin therapy significantly reduced the risk of all cerebrovascular events in the treatment group compared to control group (relative risk 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76 to 0.91; 26 trials, n=100,560). There was no statistical heterogeneity between the trials. No publication bias was evident.
Statin therapy significantly reduced the risk of ischaemic stroke in the treatment group compared to control group (relative risk 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.99; six trials, n=37,292). There was statistical heterogeneity between the trials (p=0.03). No publication bias was found.
There was no significant difference in the incidence of haemorrhagic stroke between statin and control. No significant heterogeneity was reported. No publication bias was evident.