BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To prevent new cardiovascular events after stroke, prescribed preventive drugs should be used continuously. This study measures persistent use of preventive drugs after stroke and identifies factors associated with persistence. METHODS: A 1-year cohort (21,077 survivors) from Riks-Stroke, the Swedish Stroke Register, was linked to the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who were persistent users of drugs prescribed at discharge from hospital declined progressively over the first 2 years to reach 74.2% for antihypertensive drugs, 56.1% for statins, 63.7% for antiplatelet drugs, and 45.0% for warfarin. For most drugs, advanced age, comorbidity, good self-perceived health, absence of low mood, acute treatment in a stroke unit, and institutional living at follow-up were independently associated with persistent medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent secondary prevention treatment declines rapidly during the first 2 years after stroke, particularly for statins and warfarin. Effective interventions to improve persistent secondary prevention after stroke need to be developed.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To prevent new cardiovascular events after stroke, prescribed preventive drugs should be used continuously. This study measures persistent use of preventive drugs after stroke and identifies factors associated with persistence. METHODS: A 1-year cohort (21,077 survivors) from Riks-Stroke, the Swedish Stroke Register, was linked to the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who were persistent users of drugs prescribed at discharge from hospital declined progressively over the first 2 years to reach 74.2% for antihypertensive drugs, 56.1% for statins, 63.7% for antiplatelet drugs, and 45.0% for warfarin. For most drugs, advanced age, comorbidity, good self-perceived health, absence of low mood, acute treatment in a stroke unit, and institutional living at follow-up were independently associated with persistent medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Persistent secondary prevention treatment declines rapidly during the first 2 years after stroke, particularly for statins and warfarin. Effective interventions to improve persistent secondary prevention after stroke need to be developed.
Authors: John A Dodson; Andrew Petrone; David R Gagnon; Mary E Tinetti; Harlan M Krumholz; J Michael Gaziano Journal: JAMA Cardiol Date: 2016-04-01 Impact factor: 14.676
Authors: Fred Stephen Sarfo; Gloria Kyem; Bruce Ovbiagele; John Akassi; Osei Sarfo-Kantanka; Martin Agyei; Elizabeth Badu; Nathaniel Adusei Mensah Journal: J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Date: 2016-09-14 Impact factor: 2.136