A Croquelois1, J Bogousslavsky. 1. Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. alexandre.croquelois@chuv.ch
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention of stroke has been shown to dramatically reduce recurrence and has been described as suboptimal. OBJECTIVE: To analyse patients' awareness and knowledge about cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRF) and their influence on CVRF control. METHODS: Patients (n = 164) who were attending a stroke outpatient clinic for the first time after hospital discharge (3 months) for a first stroke were asked to answer a short questionnaire including questions on awareness and knowledge of CVRF, visits to a CVRF specialist, number of visits to a general practitioner, adherence to drug treatments, cigarette smoking and cessation. RESULTS: CVRF were spontaneously mentioned as relevant for their stroke by only 13% of patients. A specialist was visited by only one-third of the patients and a general practitioner was not visited at all by 27% of the patients since their stroke. Awareness was inversely correlated with older age and good recovery. More than half of the patients had high blood pressure (> or = 140 mmHg for systolic and > or = 90 mmHg for diastolic values) at the time of follow-up. These high values were correlated with poor awareness. Appropriate secondary stroke prevention measures were not received by one-fourth of the patients; this was also correlated with poor awareness. CONCLUSIONS: CVRF control is not optimal and is at least partially related to patients' awareness and knowledge and suboptimal medical follow-up. Older patients and patients with excellent recovery are at particular risk for poor awareness and CVRF control.
BACKGROUND: Secondary prevention of stroke has been shown to dramatically reduce recurrence and has been described as suboptimal. OBJECTIVE: To analyse patients' awareness and knowledge about cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRF) and their influence on CVRF control. METHODS:Patients (n = 164) who were attending a strokeoutpatient clinic for the first time after hospital discharge (3 months) for a first stroke were asked to answer a short questionnaire including questions on awareness and knowledge of CVRF, visits to a CVRF specialist, number of visits to a general practitioner, adherence to drug treatments, cigarette smoking and cessation. RESULTS: CVRF were spontaneously mentioned as relevant for their stroke by only 13% of patients. A specialist was visited by only one-third of the patients and a general practitioner was not visited at all by 27% of the patients since their stroke. Awareness was inversely correlated with older age and good recovery. More than half of the patients had high blood pressure (> or = 140 mmHg for systolic and > or = 90 mmHg for diastolic values) at the time of follow-up. These high values were correlated with poor awareness. Appropriate secondary stroke prevention measures were not received by one-fourth of the patients; this was also correlated with poor awareness. CONCLUSIONS: CVRF control is not optimal and is at least partially related to patients' awareness and knowledge and suboptimal medical follow-up. Older patients and patients with excellent recovery are at particular risk for poor awareness and CVRF control.
Authors: Tom Skyhoj Olsen; Peter Langhorne; Hans Christoph Diener; Michael Hennerici; Jose Ferro; Johani Sivenius; Nils Gunnar Wahlgren; Philip Bath Journal: Cerebrovasc Dis Date: 2003 Impact factor: 2.762
Authors: A Croquelois; G Assal; J-M Annoni; F Staub; A Gronchi; L Bruggimann; S Dieguez; J Bogousslavsky Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2005-04 Impact factor: 10.154
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Authors: Dorien Brouwer-Goossensen; Heleen M den Hertog; Marinke A Mastenbroek-de Jong; Lisette J E W C van Gemert-Pijnen; Erik Taal Journal: Brain Behav Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 2.708