In patients with acute ischaemic stroke, platelets become activated. Antiplatelet therapy might reduce the volume of brain damaged by ischaemia and reduce the risk of early recurrent ischaemic ...stroke. This might reduce the risk of early death and improve long-term outcome in survivors. However, antiplatelet therapy might also increase the risk of fatal or disabling intracranial haemorrhage.
To assess the efficacy and safety of antiplatelet therapy in acute ischaemic stroke.
We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (last searched June 2007), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2007), MEDLINE (June 1998 to May 2007), and EMBASE (June 1998 to May 2007). In 1998, for a previous version of this review, we searched the register of the Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration, MedStrategy and contacted relevant drug companies.
Randomised trials comparing antiplatelet therapy (started within 14 days of the stroke) with control in patients with definite or presumed ischaemic stroke.
Two review authors independently applied the inclusion criteria and assessed trial quality, and for the included trials, extracted and cross-checked the data.
Twelve trials involving 43,041 participants were included. Two trials testing aspirin 160 mg to 300 mg once daily started within 48 hours of onset contributed 94% of the data. The maximum follow up was six months. With treatment, there was a significant decrease in death or dependency at the end of follow up (odds ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.91 to 0.99). For every 1000 patients treated with aspirin, 13 patients will avoid death or dependency (number needed to treat to benefit: 79). Antiplatelet therapy was associated with a small but definite excess of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages, but this was more than offset by the reduction of recurrent ischaemic strokes and pulmonary embolus.
Antiplatelet therapy with aspirin 160 mg to 300 mg daily, given orally (or by nasogastric tube or per rectum in patients who cannot swallow), and started within 48 hours of onset of presumed ischaemic stroke reduces the risk of early recurrent ischaemic stroke without a major risk of early haemorrhagic complications and improves long-term outcome.
Recent evidence from thrombolysis trials indicates the noninferiority of intravenous tenecteplase to intravenous alteplase with respect to good functional outcomes in patients with acute stroke. We ...examined whether the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with acute stroke differs by the type of thrombolysis treatment received. In addition, we examined the association between the modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 1 and HRQOL and patient-reported return to prebaseline stroke functioning at 90 days.
Data were from all patients included in the AcT trial (Alteplase Compared to Tenecteplase), a pragmatic, registry-linked randomized trial comparing tenecteplase with alteplase. HRQOL at 90-day post-randomization was assessed using the 5-item EuroQOL questionnaire (EQ5D), which consists of 5 items and a visual analog scale (VAS). EQ5D index values were estimated from the EQ5D items using the time tradeoff approach based on Canadian norms. Tobit regression and quantile regression models were used to evaluate the adjusted effect of tenecteplase versus alteplase treatment on the EQ5D index values and VAS score, respectively. The association between return to prebaseline stroke functioning and the modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 1 and HRQOL was quantified using correlation coefficient (
) with 95% CI.
Of 1577 included in the intention-to-treat analysis patients, 1503 (95.3%) had complete data on the EQ5D. Of this, 769 (51.2%) were administered tenecteplase and 717 (47.7%) were female. The mean EQ5D VAS score and EQ5D index values were not significantly higher for those who received intravenous tenecteplase compared with those who received intravenous alteplase (
=0.10). Older age (
<0.01), more severe stroke assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (
<0.01), and longer stroke onset-to-needle time (
=0.004) were associated with lower EQ5D index and VAS scores. There was a strong association (
, 0.85 95% CI, 0.81-0.89) between patient-reported return to prebaseline functioning and modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 1 Similarly, there was a moderate association between return to prebaseline functioning and EQ5D index (
, 0.45 95% CI, 0.40-0.49) and EQ5D VAS scores (
, 0.42 95% CI, 0.37-0.46).
Although there is no differential effect of thrombolysis type on patient-reported global HRQOL and EQ 5D-5L index values in patients with acute stroke, sex- and age-related differences in HRQOL were noted in this study.
URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03889249.
Background
Non-disabling stroke (NDS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) herald the possibility of future, more debilitating vascular events. Evidence is conflicting about potency of exercise and ...education in reducing risk factors for second stroke.
Methods
Three-site, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 184 participants <3 months of NDS or TIA (mean age, 65 years; 66% male) randomized to usual care (UC) or UC + 12-week program of exercise and education (PREVENT). Primary (resting systolic blood pressure) and secondary outcomes (diastolic blood pressure DBPrest, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C, total cholesterol TC, TC/HDL, triglycerides, fasting glucose, and body mass index) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 6- and 12-month follow-up. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) was measured at baseline, post-intervention, 12-month assessments.
Results
Significant between-group differences at post-intervention favored PREVENT group over UC: DBPrest (mean difference MD: −3.2 mmHg, 95% confidence interval CI: −6.3, −.2, P = .04) and LDL-C (MD: −.31 mmol/L, 95% CI: −.42, −.20, P = .02). Trends of improvement in PREVENT group were noted in several variables between baseline and 6-month follow-up but not sustained at 12-month follow-up. Of note, VO2 peak did not change over time in either group.
Conclusion
Impact of PREVENT on vascular risk factor reduction was more modest than anticipated, possibly because several outcome variables approximated normative values at baseline and training intensity may have been sub-optimal. Further investigation is warranted to determine when exercise and education programs are viable adjuncts to pharmaceutical management for reduction of risk factors for second stroke.
Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: #NCT00885456
ObjectivesThe aims of this study are: (1) to create a flowchart process model of how medical assistance in dying (MAID) occurs in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada and (2) to detail how NS healthcare ...professionals are involved in each stage of MAID. The research questions are: how is the MAID process carried out and which professionals are involved at which points? and which roles and activities do professionals carry out during MAID?DesignQualitative process model flowchart study with semistructured interviews.SettingPrimary and secondary care in NS, Canada.ParticipantsThirty-two interviewees self-selected to participate (12 physicians, 3 nurse practitioners (NP), 6 nurses, 6 pharmacists and 5 healthcare administrators and advocates). Participants were included if they conduct assessments, provide MAID, fill prescriptions, insert the intravenous lines, organise care and so on.ResultsThe flowchart process model details five stages of how MAID occurs in NS: (1) starting the MAID process, (2) MAID assessments, (3) MAID preparation (hospital in-patient, hospital outpatient, non-hospital), (4) day of MAID and (5) post-MAID (hospital in-patient and outpatient, non-hospital, after leaving setting). Nineteen points where the process could stop or be delayed were identified. MAID differs slightly by location and multiple professionals from different organisations are involved at different points. Some physicians and NP provide MAID for free as they cannot be reimbursed or find it too difficult to be reimbursed.ConclusionsOur study adds knowledge about the MAID activities and roles of NS professionals, which are not documented in the international literature. Clinicians and pharmacists spend significant additional time to participate, raising questions about MAID’s sustainability and uncompensated costs. The process model flowchart identifies where MAID can stop or be delayed, signalling where resources, training and relationship-building may need to occur. Knowing where potential delays can occur can help clinicians, administrators and policymakers in other jurisdictions improve MAID.
Medication nonadherence can be as high as 50% and results in suboptimal patient outcomes. Stroke patients in particular can benefit from pharmacotherapy for thrombosis, hypertension, and dyslipidemia ...but are at high risk for medication nonpersistence.
Patients who were admitted to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with stroke between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2002 were analyzed. Data collected were pre-stroke function, stroke subtype, stroke severity, patient outcomes, and medication use at discharge, and six and 12 months post discharge. Medication persistence at six and 12 months and the factors associated with nonpersistence at six months were examined using multivariable stepwise logistic regression.
At discharge, 420 patients (mean age 68.2 years, 55.7% male) were prescribed an average of 6.4 medications and mean prescription drug cost was $167 monthly. Antihypertensive (91%) and antithrombotic (96%) drug use at discharge were frequent, antilipidemic (73%) and antihyperglycemic (25%) drug use were less common. Self-reported persistence at six and 12 months after stroke was high (> 90%) for all categories. In the multivariable model of medication nonpersistence at six months, people aged 65 to 79 years were less likely to be nonpersistent with antihypertensive medications than people aged 80 years or more (Odds ratio (OR) 0.11, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.03-0.39). Monthly drug costs of < $90 or $90-199.99 were associated with greater nonpersistence, compared to monthly drug costs > or =$200 (OR 6.74, 95% CI 1.32-34.46 for < $90; OR 5.25, 95% CI 1.14-24.25 for $90-199.99). For the antithrombotic drug category, people aged 65 to 79 years were less likely to be nonpersistent than people aged 80 years or more (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.81), and people who were disabled before admission were more likely to be nonpersistent than those not disabled (OR 7.01, 95% CI 1.66-29.58).
Patients reported high medication persistence rates six and 12 months after stroke. Identification of factors associated with nonpersistence (such as older age and prior disability) will help predict which patients are at higher risk for discontinuing their medications.
Actively engaging people with lived experience (PWLE) in stroke-related clinical practice guideline development has not been effectively implemented. This pilot project evaluated the feasibility, ...perceived value, and effectiveness of the Community Consultation and Review Panel (CCRP), a new model to engage PWLE in the writing and review of Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations. Responses to a standardized evaluation tool indicated that participants perceived the CCRP as valued, impactful, effective, and beneficial to stroke care. This project successfully demonstrated that values, experiences, and recommendations of PWLE can be effectively incorporated into guideline content and is applicable to all guideline development processes.
Previous studies describe significant rates of misdiagnosis of stroke, seizure and other neurological problems, but there are few studies examining diagnostic accuracy of all emergency referrals to a ...neurology service. This information could be useful in focusing the neurological education of physicians who assess and refer patients with neurological complaints in emergency departments.
All neurological consultations in the emergency department at a tertiary-care teaching hospital were recorded for six months. The initial diagnosis of the requesting physician was recorded for each patient. This was compared to the initial diagnosis of the consulting neurologist and to the final diagnosis, as determined by retrospective chart review.
Over a six-month period, 493 neurological consultations were requested. The initial diagnosis of the requesting physician agreed with the final diagnosis in 60.4% (298/493) of cases, and disagreed or was uncertain in 35.7% of cases (19.1% and 16.6% respectively). In 3.9% of cases, the initial diagnosis of both the referring physician and the neurologist disagreed with the final diagnosis. Common misdiagnoses included neurocardiogenic syncope, peripheral vertigo, primary headache and psychogenic syndromes. Often, these were initially diagnosed as stroke or seizure.
Our data indicate that misdiagnosis or diagnostic uncertainty occurred in over one-third of all neurological consultations in the emergency department setting. Benign neurological conditions, such as migraine, syncope and peripheral vertigo are frequently mislabeled as seizure or stroke. Educational strategies that emphasize emergent evaluation of these common conditions could improve diagnostic accuracy, and may result in better patient care.
Fatigue affects 33-77% of stroke survivors. There is no consensus concerning risk factors for fatigue post-stroke, perhaps reflecting the multifaceted nature of fatigue. We characterized post-stroke ...fatigue using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), a validated questionnaire capturing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial aspects of fatigue.
The Stroke Outcomes Study (SOS) prospectively enrolled ischemic stroke patients from 2001-2002. Measures collected included basic demographics, pre-morbid function (Oxford Handicap Scale, OHS), stroke severity (Stroke Severity Scale, SSS), stroke subtype (Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project Classification, OCSP), and discharge function (OHS; Barthel Index, BI). An interview was performed at 12 months evaluating function (BI; Modified Rankin Score, mRS), quality of life (Reintegration into Normal living Scale, RNL), depression (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS), and fatigue (FIS).
We enrolled 522 ischemic stroke patients and 228 (57.6%) survivors completed one-year follow-up. In total, 36.8% endorsed fatigue (59.5% rated one of worst post-stroke symptoms). Linear regression demonstrated younger age was associated with increased fatigue frequency (β=-0.20;p=0.01), duration (β=-0.22;p<0.01), and disability (β=-0.24;p<0.01). Younger patients were more likely to describe fatigue as one of the worst symptoms post-stroke (β=-0.24;p=0.001). Younger patients experienced greater impact on cognitive (β=-0.27;p<0.05) and psychosocial (β=-0.27;p<0.05) function due to fatigue. Fatigue was correlated with depressive symptoms and diminished quality of life. Fatigue occurred without depression as 49.0% of respondents with fatigue as one of their worst symptoms did not have an elevated GDS.
Age was the only consistent predictor of fatigue severity at one year. Younger participants experienced increased cognitive and psychosocial fatigue.
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