The Prevention of Cerebrovascular and Cardiovascular Events of Ischemic Origin with Terutroban in Patients with a History of Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (PERFORM) Study: Baseline Characteristics of the Population

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raises the concern that other non-COVID conditions will be affected by a decline in care. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the decline in ambulatory presentations for vascular events (stroke, transient ischemic attack [TIA], and myocardial infarction [MI]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke, TIA, or MI documented anonymously in 1,262 general practices in Germany were included. We studied the differences between 2019 and 2020 (between April and June) in terms of rates and baseline characteristics by comparing monthly absolute frequencies. Results: A total of 3,496 patients with stroke (mean age: 72.2 years), 1,608 patients with TIA (mean age: 71.5 years), and 2,385 patients with MI (mean age: 66.8 years) were identified between April and June 2020, indicating a decrease of 10% (stroke), 16% (TIA), and 9% (MI) compared to 2019. For patients with stroke, the decrease in men was 13% (women: −6%) but reached 17% in the age category 51–60 years. For MI, the decrease was only obvious in males (14%). The largest decrease in stroke (−17%) and MI (−19%) was noted in April, while that for TIA occurred in May (−22%). In June for all 3 conditions, the previous year’s level was achieved. Only in TIA, the age differs between 2019 and 2020 (mean age: 69.9 vs. 71.5 years; p < 0.05). In patients with stroke and MI, the proportions of men were lower in 2019 than in 2020 (stroke: 54.8–50.5%, p < 0.05 and MI: 64–60.2%, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Although the decline in the number of patients presenting with stroke, TIA, and MI was not as noticeable in the ambulatory sector as it was in the area of emergency hospital-based care, our data indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic affected all sectors within the medical care system.

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Optimal Duration of Aspirin Plus Clopidogrel After Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.118.023978 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 947-953 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hammad Rahman ◽

Safi U. Khan ◽

Fahad Nasir ◽

Tehseen Hammad ◽

Michael A. Meyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Transient Ischemic Attack ◽

Cardiovascular Events ◽

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Short Term ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Ischemic Attack

Background and Purpose— The role of aspirin plus clopidogrel (A+C) therapy compared with aspirin monotherapy in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack remains uncertain. We conducted this study to determine the optimal period of efficacy and safety of A+C compared with aspirin monotherapy. Methods— Ten randomized controlled trials (15 434 patients) were selected using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (inception June 2018) comparing A+C with aspirin monotherapy in patients with transient ischemic attack or IS. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent IS, and the primary safety outcome was major bleeding. The secondary outcomes were major adverse cardiovascular events (composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality) and all-cause mortality. We stratified analysis based on the short- (≤1 month), intermediate- (≤3 month), and long-term (>3 month) A+C therapy. Effects were estimated as relative risk (RR) with 95% CI. Results— A+C significantly reduced the risk of recurrent IS at short-term (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37–0.78) and intermediate-term (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58–0.90) durations. Similarly, major adverse cardiovascular event was significantly reduced by short-term (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60–0.78) and intermediate-term (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.61–0.94) A+C therapy. However, long-term A+C did not yield beneficial effect in terms of recurrent IS (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.63–1.04) and major adverse cardiovascular events (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.71–1.07). Intermediate-term (RR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.19–5.60) and long-term (RR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.36–2.56) A+C regimens significantly increased the risk of major bleeding as opposed to short-term A+C (RR, 1.82; 95% CI, 0.91–3.62). Excessive all-cause mortality was limited to long-term A+C (RR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.10–1.93). Conclusions— Short-term A+C is more effective and equally safe in comparison to aspirin alone in patients with acute IS or transient ischemic attack.

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Abstract TP418: Delayed Detection Of Atrial Fibrillation After Ischemic Stroke Or Transient Ischemic Attack

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.atp418 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Maria C Zurru ◽

LAURA BRESCACIN ◽

Claudia Alonzo ◽

Victor Villarroel ◽

Gabriela Orzuza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Transient Ischemic Attack ◽

Recurrence Risk ◽

Improvement Program ◽

Profile Control ◽

History Of ◽

Ischemic Attack

Background and purpose: detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ischemic stroke is crucial, because anticoagulation is mandatory in order to decrease recurrence risk. However, there is no agreement regarding the optimal method to detect paroxysmal AF after the event. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictors for delayed detection of AF after ischemic stroke (IS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods: PROTEGE-ACV is a multidisciplinary stroke quality improvement program coordinated by internists and neurologists within a Buenos Aires healthcare system aimed to optimize secondary stroke preventive care after IS or TIA. Demographic data, vascular risk factors profile control and management were evaluated at the inclusion visit, and IS was categorized according to TOAST classification. Results: From 01/2007 to 04 /2012, 872 ischemic stroke patients were included; mean age was 75 ± 10 years-old and 55% were female. Twenty two percent were cardioembolic and 7% undetermined with more than one mechanism with AF as one of them; 14% of patients had history of AF or diagnosis at hospitalization. Incident AF was diagnosed in 101 (21%) of 473 patients with two or more years of follow-up.. Diagnosis of AF was associated with age older than 80 years (OR 1.96 95% CI 1.25-3), history of hypertension (OR 2.4 95% CI 1.25-4.8), chronic renal failure (OR 2.65 95% CI 1.54-4.55) and stroke recurrence (OR 2.96 95% CI 1.66-5.26). Conclusion: delayed diagnosis of AF was common in this cohort of patients with IS or TIA. Identification of risk factors is important in order to perform a close follow-up of these patients and to determine the best method for this purpose, in order to reduce recurrence risk.

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