Abstract WP328: A Nurse-Led Initiative Improves Adherence Rates for Stroke Follow-up and Blood Pressure Management

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren T Larsen ◽  
Helmi L Lutsep

Background and Issues Aggressive management of vascular risk factors reduces stroke rates. It is unknown whether structured nurse-led follow up increases adherence rates for stroke patients after hospital discharge. Purpose The purpose of this program is to improve secondary stroke risk factor management by instituting a nurse-led initiative called Stroke Therapy, Education, Prevention (STEP). Methods The pilot STEP program was based on protocols used for other stroke prevention trials. This nurse-led program includes inpatient initiation and outpatient maintenance of pharmacologic and lifestyle goals for stroke patients. Eligible patients have a non-disabling ischemic stroke or TIA and are without insurance restrictions and live within a distance allowing return to clinic for follow up. Prior to discharge, the STEP nurse completes patient education, and reviews outpatient goals. The STEP nurse makes phone contact with the patient 7-10 days after discharge to review medication compliance and reinforce education. At 30 days post discharge patients are seen in clinic by the STEP nurse where a resting blood pressure (BP) is measured. If the patient does not meet targets (<140 SBP or <130 SBP for DM) medications are adjusted by a stroke neurologist. We undertook a retrospective chart review of a consecutive cohort of patients matched to STEP eligibility criteria to determine whether the program improved retention rates and BP management. Chi-Square analysis was used to compare visit adherence and percentage achieving goal BPs at 30 days. Results In the STEP group 25/32(78%) patients completed the 30 day follow up compared to 14/32 (44%) patients in the historical matched cohort (p=0.0048). Target BP was achieved in 13/25(52%) STEP patients and 5/14 (36%) matched cohort patients (p=0.32) returning to clinic. Overall, target BP was achieved in 13/32 (41%) and 5/32 (16%) respectively (p=0.026). Conclusions In conclusion, follow up adherence and BP management in the group as a whole was better in the nurse-led model and is recommended for secondary stroke prevention. Long term follow up with this model may further increase in-target rates of BP control and other stroke risk factors.

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 532-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Ellis

Racial differences have been observed in stroke-related knowledge and knowledge of specific stroke risk factors and stroke prevention practices. Using data from 134 male stroke survivors, racial differences in overall knowledge, risk factor knowledge, and stroke prevention practices were examined using the Stroke Knowledge Test. Knowledge that diabetes doubles ones risk of stroke was present in 48% of the participants, while knowledge of aspirin in the prevention of stroke by stopping blood clot formation was reported in 83% of the participants. Findings indicate participants were knowledgeable that obesity increased risk of stroke (71%) and high blood pressure was the most important stroke risk factor (70%). Participants indicated knowledge that diet, exercise, and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol reduces risk of stroke (86%). In regression models, there were no significant race differences in overall stroke knowledge or the odds of knowledge of information related to stroke risk factors and stroke prevention practices after adjusting for age, education, and marital status. Although stroke-related knowledge did not differ by race, stroke survivors exhibited gaps in stroke knowledge particularly of knowledge of common risk factors. These factors should be considered in approaches to improve stroke-related knowledge in all stroke survivors.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh V Jillella ◽  
Sara Crawford ◽  
Anne S Tang ◽  
Rocio Lopez ◽  
Ken Uchino

Introduction: Regional disparities exist in stroke incidence and stroke related mortality in the United States. We aimed to elucidate the stroke risk factor prevalence trends based on urban versus rural location. Methods: From the National Inpatient Sample database the comorbid stroke risk factors were collected among hospitalized ischemic stroke patients during 2000-2016. Crude and age-and sex-standardized prevalence estimates were calculated for each risk factor during the time periods 2000-2008 and 2009-2016. We compared risk factor prevalence over the defined time periods using regression models, and differences in risk factor trends based on patient location categorized as urban (metropolitan with population of ≥ 1 million) and rural (neither micropolitan or metropolitan) using interaction terms in the regression models. Results: Stroke risk factor prevalence significantly increased from 2000-2008 to 2009-2016. When stratified based on patient location, most risk factors increased in both urban and rural groups. In the crude model, the urban to rural trend difference across 2000-08 and 2009-16 was significant in hypertension (p<0.0001), hyperlipidemia (p=0.0008), diabetes mellitus (p<0.0001), coronary artery disease (p<0.0001), smoking (p<0.0001) and alcohol (p=0.02). With age and sex standardization, the urban to rural trend difference was significant in hypertension (p<0.0001), hyperlipidemia (p=0.0007), coronary artery disease (p=0.01) and smoking (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of vascular risk factors among ischemic stroke patients has increased over the last two decades. There exists an urban-rural divide, with rural patients showing larger increases in prevalence of several risk factors compared to urban patients.


2015 ◽  
Vol 114 (10) ◽  
pp. 826-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flemming Skjøth ◽  
Peter Nielsen ◽  
Torben Bjerregaard Larsen ◽  
Gregory Lip

SummaryOral anticoagulation (OAC) to prevent stroke has to be balanced against the potential harm of serious bleeding, especially intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). We determined the net clinical benefit (NCB) balancing effectiveness and safety of no antithrombotic therapy, aspirin and warfarin in AF patients with none or one stroke risk factor. Using Danish registries, we determined NCB using various definitions intrinsic to our cohort (Danish weights at 1 and 5 year follow-up), with risk weights which were derived from the hazard ratio (HR) of death following an event, relative to HR of death after ischaemic stroke. When aspirin was compared to no treatment, NCB was neutral or negative for both risk strata. For warfarin vs no treatment, NCB using Danish weights was neutral where no risk factors were present and using five years follow-up. For one stroke risk factor, NCB was positive for warfarin vs no treatment, for one year and five year follow-up. For warfarin vs aspirin use in patients with no risk factors, NCB was positive with one year follow-up, but neutral with five year follow-up. With one risk factor, NCB was generally positive for warfarin vs aspirin. In conclusion, we show a positive overall advantage (i.e. positive NCB) of effective stroke prevention with OAC, compared to no therapy or aspirin with one additional stroke risk factor, using Danish weights. ‘Low risk’ AF patients with no additional stroke risk factors (i.e. CHA2DS2-VASc 0 in males, 1 in females) do not derive any advantage (neutral or negative NCB) with aspirin, nor with warfarin therapy in the long run.Note: The review process for this manuscript was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Olasoji ◽  
FRED S SARFO ◽  
Alexis Simpkins

Introduction: Optimization of secondary stroke prevention is an essential part of stroke care globally. We sought to assess differences in medication utilization between African Americans (AA), Non-Hispanic Whites (NW), and Ghanaians in addition to effects related to location of residence (rural versus urban). Methods: Data from the UFHealth institutional stroke database and the Kumasi, Ghana Stroke Survivors Registry between 01/2014 and 11/2019 provided a dataset of adult patients diagnosed with stroke from both locations. Multivariate regression analysis identified differences between country of origin, race, patient demographics, location of residence, stroke risk factors, and clinical management following stroke. Results: Of the 5519 patients studied, the median age was 66 (IQR 45 - 87), 16% were AA, 19% Ghanaian, 66% NW, and 51% were male. After controlling for age, sex, stroke type, and stroke risk factors, we found that in comparison to the AA and NW, patients from Ghana were more likely to be prescribed angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (OR 1.42, 1.05-1.93 95% CI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (OR 18.36, 13.08-25.78 95% CI), calcium channel blockers (CCB) (OR 8.35, 6.30-11.08 95% CI), statin (OR 3.26, 2.26-4.59 95% CI), anti-diabetic oral agents (OR 7.18, 4.21-12.27 95% CI); less likely to be prescribed anticoagulant (OR 0.22, 0.12-0.40 95% CI), beta blockers (BB) (OR 0.15, 0.11-0.21 95% CI), and insulin (OR 0.11, 0.06-0.20 95% CI). In comparison to AA, Ghanaians were more likely to be prescribed statin (OR 3.06, 1.93-4.86 95% CI), ARBs (OR 22.87, 13.85-37.79 95% CI), CCBs (OR 5.83, 3.94-8.62 95% CI), anti-diabetic oral agents (OR 8.89, 4.25-18.59 95% CI); less likely to live in an urban vs rural setting (OR 0.64, 0.46-0.89 95% CI), be prescribed anticoagulant (OR 0.28, 0.14-0.55 95% CI), BBs (OR 0.13, 0.0.09-0.19 95% CI), and insulin (OR 0.11, 0.05-0.23 95% CI). Conclusion: In conclusion, we found significant differences in the prevalence of medications prescribed for stroke prevention between Ghana and the U.S. Further research is needed to determine if these differences result in consequential differences in stroke reoccurrence between these populations.


Author(s):  
Sun Young Choi ◽  
Moo Hyun Kim ◽  
Kwang Min Lee ◽  
Young‐Rak Cho ◽  
Jong Sung Park ◽  
...  

Background The CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score has been validated for stroke risk prediction in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Antithrombotic therapy is not recommended for low‐risk patients with AF (CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc 0 [male] or 1 [female]). We studied a cohort of initially low‐risk patients with AF in relation to their development of incident comorbidities and their treatment on oral anticoagulation therapy. Methods and Results We assessed data from 14 441 low‐risk patients with AF (CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score of 0 [male] or 1 [female]) using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, in relation to their development of incident stroke risk factors and adverse outcomes. The clinical end point was the occurrence of ischemic stroke, major bleeding, all‐cause death, or the composite outcome (ischemic stroke + major bleeding + all‐cause death). In our cohort, 2615 (29.1%) male and 1650 (30.3%) female patients acquired at least 1 new stroke risk factor during a mean follow‐up of 2.0 years. Among the patients with an increasing CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score ≥1, male and female patients treated with oral anticoagulants had a significantly lower risk of ischemic stroke (male: hazard ratio [HR], 0.62 [95% CI, 0.44–0.82; P =0.003]; female: HR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.47–0.84; P =0.007]), all‐cause death (male: HR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.49–0.88; P =0.009]; female: HR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.63–1.02; P =0.185]), and composite outcomes (male: HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61–0.95; P =0.042]; female: HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.62–0.96; P =0.045]) than patients not treated with oral anticoagulants. Conclusions Approximately 30% of patients acquired ≥1 stroke risk factor over a 2‐year follow‐up period. Low‐risk patients with AF should be regularly reassessed to adequately identify those with incident stroke risk factors that would merit thromboprophylaxis for the prevention of stroke and the composite outcome.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A Nichols ◽  
Shreekant Parasuraman ◽  
Sandra Joshua-Gotlib

Risk of ischemic stroke is approximately doubled in patients with diabetes. To reduce risk, managing diabetes includes optimizing glycemic, blood pressure (BP), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) control. We studied which risk factors alone or in combination were most strongly associated with stroke hospitalizations. We identified 26,924 Kaiser Permanente Northwest members with type 2 diabetes and no known prior cardiovascular disease hospitalization. Beginning in 2002, we identified the earliest point patients had glycosolated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic BP (SBP), and LDL-C measurements within 6 months of each other and followed them until they died, disenrolled, or 31 December 2011. Outcome was hospitalization with primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Using mean HbA1c, SBP, and LDL-C between baseline and end of follow-up, we identified dichotomous categories of control of HbA1c (<7%), SBP (<130 mm Hg) and LDL-C (<100 mg/dL) and estimated the relative risk of stroke hospitalization independently associated with all combinations of risk factors controlling for age, sex, diabetes duration, comorbidities, body mass index, smoking, and pharmacotherapy. Mean (SD) age of patients was 59 (12) years; 50% were men. Over mean (SD) follow-up of 6.2 (2.8) years, 606 (2.3%) patients were hospitalized for ischemic stroke. Compared with patients with all 3 risk factors in control, patients who had no risk factors controlled or only HbA1c controlled had >2-fold increased risk of ischemic stroke. Patients who controlled both SBP and LDL-C had significantly lower risk relative to control of all 3 risk factors. In this observational study, maintaining control of SBP over 6.2 years was essential to reduction of ischemic stroke risk. Simultaneous control of LDL-C further reduced risk, but HbA1c control <7% did not mitigate stroke risk beyond SBP and LDL-C control. Further research is needed to evaluate the relationship between HbA1c control and stroke risk.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Parfenov

Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the leading causes of disability after stroke; CI is observed in more than half of patients and reaches a pronounced degree (of dementia) in every three to five patients. CI in poststroke patients is often caused not only by focal vascular lesions of the brain, but also by the presence of concomitant vascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The treatment and prevention of progressive CI are based on stroke prevention, non-drug and drug methods to improve cognitive functions. Blood pressure normalization during antihypertensive therapy is most effective in preventing the progression of CI in stroke patients. The use of Actovegin in patients with CI after stroke is discussed. The results of the author's own 5-year follow-up of 350 patients with stroke are presented.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Anding Xu ◽  
Zefeng Tan ◽  
◽  

Hypertension is the most important of the prevalent and modifiable risk factors for stroke. Based on evidence, blood pressure (BP) lowering is recommended in guidelines for the prevention of stroke. However, there are still some uncertainties in the guidelines for controlling BP and preventing stroke in patients with previous cerebrovascular events, such as the goal BP, who to treat and which class of BP-lowering drugs to use. This article discusses these questions by reviewing guidelines and corresponding clinical trials, with the aim of reducing the gap between guidelines and clinical practice.


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