Zhu Z, et al. - Researchers performed this study including ischemic patients from China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, to determine the association between serum cystatin C (CysC) and functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients and to determine the impact of lipid component level on this link. The focus was on poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) at one year after ischemic stroke as well as on death, stroke recurrence, vascular events and combination of the aforementioned outcomes. Using serum CysC, estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated (eGFR_CysC) at baseline. They found that multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of poor functional outcome related to low eGFR_CysC was 3.94 (1.04–14.98). They also observed a positive linear dose-response link between them among patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥4.14 mmol/l. These links were corroborated in subgroup analyses. Overall, the 1-year poor functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients with LDL-C ≥4.14 mmol/l may be independently predicted by low eGFR_CysC.