Abstract
BACKGROUND: Stroke is defined as a rapid onset of isolated neurologic dysfunction and is the leading cause of disability in adults, as well as the third-leading cause of death in the US. Nearly 600 000 cases of stroke are reported annually. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the impact of emerging evidence on the use of secondary stroke prevention strategies in patients discharged from a specialized stroke center in 2002 compared with those discharged in 2000. METHODS: Using a retrospective approach, data were collected on the first 100 patients cared for by the stroke service from July 1, 2000, to December 31, 2000. Using a prospective approach, the goal was to enroll 100 patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke and telephone the patients 1 and 3 months after discharge to determine patient adherence and persistence rate of medications. This is an interim report of the first 20 patients enrolled. RESULTS: Both studies resulted in populations of 55% women and 45% men. The most common risk factor was hypertension, with 59% on admission in 2000 and 75% in 2002. Use of antithrombotics (98% in 2000 to 100% in 2002) and antihypertensives (67% in 2000 to 90% in 2002) was high in both studies and not significantly different. The 2 most significant changes in prescribing were increased use of statins (13% in 2000 to 50% in 2002, p = 0.0007) and combination clopidogrel and aspirin use (0% in 2000 to 20% in 2002, p = 0.001). At 3 months, 66.7% of patients were on the same antithrombotic medication as at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The dedicated stroke service was able to effectively translate emerging evidence and guidelines into practice and significantly change the use of prescribed medications for secondary stroke prevention.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 215-219 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Annals of Pharmacotherapy |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2004 |
Keywords
- Antihypertensives
- Antithrombotics
- Hypertension
- Statins
- Stroke prevention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology (medical)
- Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)