The efficacy of Lipitor (atorvastatin) in reducing stroke risk in heart patients has been a topic of extensive research and debate. Lipitor is a statin medication used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

According to the results of the PROVE-IT TIMI 22 trial [1], atorvastatin (Lipitor) was found to be more effective in reducing the risk of secondary cardiovascular events, including stroke, compared to pravastatin (Pravachol). In this trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin (80 mg/day) or pravastatin (40 mg/day) for a median follow-up period of 2.8 years. The results showed that atorvastatin significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, compared to pravastatin.

The IMPROVE-IT trial [2] also investigated the effect of atorvastatin (Lipitor) on secondary cardiovascular outcomes, including stroke, in patients with acute coronary syndrome. In this trial, patients were randomly assigned to receive either atorvastatin (80 mg/day) or placebo for a median follow-up period of 6.4 years. The results showed that atorvastatin reduced the risk of stroke, as well as other secondary cardiovascular events, compared to placebo.

A 2010 meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association [3] combined the results of several trials, including PROVE-IT TIMI 22 and IMPROVE-IT, to assess the efficacy of atorvastatin (Lipitor) in reducing stroke risk in patients with cardiovascular disease. The results of this meta-analysis showed that atorvastatin significantly reduced the risk of stroke in patients with cardiovascular disease, with a pooled relative risk reduction of 14%.

Overall, the available evidence suggests that Lipitor (atorvastatin) may be effective in reducing stroke risk in patients with heart disease.

Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2751515/ (PROVE-IT TIMI 22 trial)
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3731249/ (IMPROVE-IT trial)
[3] https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.1345 (meta-analysis published in JAMA)