| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(Stroke. 2001;32:1884.)
© 2001 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions |
From the Department of Neurology, Stroke Unit, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Correspondence to Hans-Christian Koennecke, MD, Department of Neurology, Ev Krankenhaus Königin Elisabeth Herzberge, Herzbergstr 79, 10362 Berlin, Germany. E-mail h.koennecke{at}keh-berlin.de
Background and Purpose Compliance with pharmacological therapy is essential for the efficiency of secondary prevention of ischemic stroke. Few data exist regarding patient compliance with antithrombotic and risk factor treatment outside of controlled clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to assess the rate of and predictors for compliance with secondary stroke prevention 1 year after cerebral ischemia and to identify reasons for noncompliance.
Methods Patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke or TIA and antithrombotic discharge medication were prospectively recruited. At 1 year, the proportion of patients compliant with antithrombotic treatment and with medication for risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia) was evaluated through structured telephone interviews. In addition, the reasons for nontreatment with antithrombotic and risk factor medication were determined. Independent predictors for compliance were analyzed by logistic regression analyses.
Results Of 588 consecutive patients admitted to our stroke unit, 470 had a discharge diagnosis of cerebral ischemia (TIA 26.2%, cerebral infarct 73.8%) and recommendations for antithrombotic therapy. At 1 year, 63 patients (13.4%) had died and 21 (4.5%) were lost to follow-up, thus, 386 could finally be evaluated. Of the patients, 87.6% were still on antithrombotic medication, and 70.2% were treated with the same agent prescribed on discharge. Of the patients with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, 90.8%, 84.9%, and 70.2% were still treated for their respective risk factors. Logistic regression analyses revealed age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.06), stroke severity on admission (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.20), and cardioembolic cause (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.23 to 13.83) as independent predictors of compliance.
Conclusions Compliance with secondary prevention in patients with ischemic stroke is rather good in the setting of our study. Higher age, a more severe neurological deficit on admission, and cardioembolic stroke cause are associated with better long-term compliance. Knowledge of these determinants may help to further improve the quality of stroke prevention.
Key Words: antithrombotic therapy medical management prevention stroke, ischemic
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
J. A. McManus, A. Craig, C. McAlpine, P. Langhorne, and G. Ellis Does behaviour modification affect post-stroke risk factor control? Three-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 2009; 23(2): 99 - 105. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Wettermark, A. Persson, and M. von Euler Secondary Prevention in a Large Stroke Population: A Study of Patients' Purchase of Recommended Drugs Stroke, October 1, 2008; 39(10): 2880 - 2885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Touze, J. Coste, M. Voicu, J. Kansao, R. Masmoudi, B. Doumenc, P. Durieux, and J.-L. Mas Importance of In-Hospital Initiation of Therapies and Therapeutic Inertia in Secondary Stroke Prevention: IMplementation of Prevention After a Cerebrovascular evenT (IMPACT) Study Stroke, June 1, 2008; 39(6): 1834 - 1843. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. Colivicchi, A. Bassi, M. Santini, and C. Caltagirone Discontinuation of Statin Therapy and Clinical Outcome After Ischemic Stroke Stroke, October 1, 2007; 38(10): 2652 - 2657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. E. Ramsay, P. H. Whincup, S. G. Wannamethee, O. Papacosta, L. Lennon, M. C. Thomas, and R. W. Morris Missed opportunities for secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease in elderly British men from 1999 to 2005: a population-based study J. Public Health Med., September 1, 2007; 29(3): 251 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. L. Paul and A. G. Thrift Control of Hypertension 5 Years After Stroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study Hypertension, August 1, 2006; 48(2): 260 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Muller-Nordhorn, C. H. Nolte, K. Rossnagel, G. J. Jungehulsing, A. Reich, S. Roll, A. Villringer, and S. N. Willich Knowledge About Risk Factors for Stroke: A Population-Based Survey With 28 090 Participants Stroke, April 1, 2006; 37(4): 946 - 950. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Roca, C. Suarez, A. Ceballos, J.M. Varela, F. Nonell, J. Montes, J. Sobrino, A. de la Pena, and for the CIFARC Group Control of hypertension in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease QJM, August 1, 2005; 98(8): 581 - 588. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Task Force Members, L. H. Schwamm, A. Pancioli, J. E. Acker III, L. B. Goldstein, R. D. Zorowitz, T. J. Shephard, P. Moyer, M. Gorman, S. C. Johnston, et al. Recommendations for the Establishment of Stroke Systems of Care: Recommendations From the American Stroke Association's Task Force on the Development of Stroke Systems Stroke, March 1, 2005; 36(3): 690 - 703. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. H. Schwamm, A. Pancioli, J. E. Acker III, L. B. Goldstein, R. D. Zorowitz, T. J. Shephard, P. Moyer, M. Gorman, S. C. Johnston, P. W. Duncan, et al. Recommendations for the Establishment of Stroke Systems of Care: Recommendations From the American Stroke Association's Task Force on the Development of Stroke Systems Circulation, March 1, 2005; 111(8): 1078 - 1091. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
|
Stroke Home | Subscriptions | Archives | Feedback | Authors | Help | AHA Journals Home | Search Copyright © 2001 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. |