Stephen J X Murphy1, Catherine A Coughlan2, Oliver Tobin3, Justin Kinsella4, Roisin Lonergan2, Myles Gutkin2, Dominick J H McCabe5. 1. Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Stroke Service, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland. 2. Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland. 3. Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Stroke Service, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Stroke Service, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London, UK. 5. Department of Neurology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Stroke Service, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH), Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Free Campus, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: dominick.mccabe@amnch.ie.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Consistent adherence to treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention following TIA/ischaemic stroke. Representative data on long-term treatment continuation and adherence rates are limited. METHODS: This single centre study recruited patients attending our Rapid Access Stroke Prevention clinic in Ireland from 07/09/2006 → 30/11/2009. Demographic and clinical data, and prescribed medication regimens at initial assessment were recorded. All patients received copies of clinical correspondence containing clear 'goal-directed treatment advice' sent to their general practitioner or referring physician. Patients were subsequently interviewed with a standardised pro-forma to assess continuation and adherence rates; overall adherence rates with secondary prevention therapy were also assessed with a validated self-reporting tool (Morisky Scale). Recurrent vascular events during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen patients were recruited; mean age: 64.5 ± 13.8 years; median duration of follow-up: 630 days. Patients were prescribed aspirin (69.3%), alone (17.5%) or in combination with dipyridamole MR (51.8%), clopidogrel (18.2%), warfarin (16.7%), statins (76.3%) and anti-hypertensives (51.8%). During follow-up, the percentages of patients continuing treatment prescribed at the initial visit were: Aspirin (93.7%), dipyridamole MR (72.9%), clopidogrel (81%), warfarin (94.7%), statins (87.9%) and anti-hypertensives (89.8%). Overall, 99.1% reported taking their medication the preceding day. Morisky scale scores for all treatments revealed that 41.2% (N=47) were high, 36.8% (N=42) medium, and 12.3% (N=14) low adherers; 9.7% (N=11) had incomplete data. Two patients (1.8%) had recurrent cerebrovascular events, and two (1.8%) had myocardial infarctions. DISCUSSION: This novel study in European TIA/ischaemic stroke patients, who were provided with a goal-directed secondary prevention plan, showed high rates of medication-continuation and self-reported adherence with prescribed treatment, associated with a low incidence of recurrent vascular events during a median follow up of 1.7 years.
INTRODUCTION: Consistent adherence to treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention following TIA/ischaemic stroke. Representative data on long-term treatment continuation and adherence rates are limited. METHODS: This single centre study recruited patients attending our Rapid Access Stroke Prevention clinic in Ireland from 07/09/2006 → 30/11/2009. Demographic and clinical data, and prescribed medication regimens at initial assessment were recorded. All patients received copies of clinical correspondence containing clear 'goal-directed treatment advice' sent to their general practitioner or referring physician. Patients were subsequently interviewed with a standardised pro-forma to assess continuation and adherence rates; overall adherence rates with secondary prevention therapy were also assessed with a validated self-reporting tool (Morisky Scale). Recurrent vascular events during follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen patients were recruited; mean age: 64.5 ± 13.8 years; median duration of follow-up: 630 days. Patients were prescribed aspirin (69.3%), alone (17.5%) or in combination with dipyridamole MR (51.8%), clopidogrel (18.2%), warfarin (16.7%), statins (76.3%) and anti-hypertensives (51.8%). During follow-up, the percentages of patients continuing treatment prescribed at the initial visit were: Aspirin (93.7%), dipyridamole MR (72.9%), clopidogrel (81%), warfarin (94.7%), statins (87.9%) and anti-hypertensives (89.8%). Overall, 99.1% reported taking their medication the preceding day. Morisky scale scores for all treatments revealed that 41.2% (N=47) were high, 36.8% (N=42) medium, and 12.3% (N=14) low adherers; 9.7% (N=11) had incomplete data. Two patients (1.8%) had recurrent cerebrovascular events, and two (1.8%) had myocardial infarctions. DISCUSSION: This novel study in European TIA/ischaemic strokepatients, who were provided with a goal-directed secondary prevention plan, showed high rates of medication-continuation and self-reported adherence with prescribed treatment, associated with a low incidence of recurrent vascular events during a median follow up of 1.7 years.
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