Achievement of therapeutic objectives of secondary patient prevention with acute ischemic cerebrovascular stroke

Background and Aims : Strokes are the third most common cause of death in the general population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the achievement of therapeutic targets of secondary prevention of patients who have suffered by acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods: We studied 498 patients (275 men and 223 women, with an average age of 71.6±8 years) with a confirmed AIS. Patients' compliance with medication was assessed by reviewing patients after six months.Results: Of these, 64.55% of the patients were hypertensive, 36.8% diabetic, 55.2% active smokers and 64.9% had dyslipidemia. They were instructed to take 83% statin, 57% antihypertensive treatment, antiplatelet agent 96%, 31% antidiabetic treatment, stop smoking and lose weight in obese people. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they complied with the treatment guidelines. Of the patients, those who received antihypertensive and anti-platelet therapy, 78% and 81% respectively reported continued taking the drug. Insufficient pharmaceutical compliance was found in patients administered hypolipidemic treatment (57%). Of the patients treated with diabetes mellitus, 41% had HbA1c<6.5%. A high proportion of patients stopped smoking (84%), but not of weight loss (41%).Comparing group A that complied with the treatment guidelines with group B that did not comply, there was a 21% increase in AIS recurrence (14% in group A versus 34% in group B, p<0.05).Conclusions: The achievement of therapeutic targets of secondary prevention is low after an AIS. Patients are better educated and intensive treatment regimen is administered on secondary prevention after an AIS. Background and Aims : Strokes are the third most common cause of death in the general population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the achievement of therapeutic targets of secondary prevention of patients who have suffered by acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We studied 498 patients (275 men and 223 women, with an average age of 71.6±8 years) with a confirmed AIS. Patients' compliance with medication was assessed by reviewing patients after six months. Results: Of these, 64.55% of the patients were hypertensive, 36.8% diabetic, 55.2% active smokers and 64.9% had dyslipidemia. They were instructed to take 83% statin, 57% antihypertensive treatment, antiplatelet agent 96%, 31% antidiabetic treatment, stop smoking and lose weight in obese people. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether or not they complied with the treatment guidelines. Of the patients, those who received antihypertensive and anti-platelet therapy, 78% and 81% respectively reported continued taking the drug. Insufficient pharmaceutical compliance was found in patients administered hypolipidemic treatment (57%). Of the patients treated with diabetes mellitus, 41% had HbA1c<6.5%. A high proportion of patients stopped smoking (84%), but not of weight loss (41%).Comparing group A that complied with the treatment guidelines with group B that did not comply, there was a 21% increase in AIS recurrence (14% in group A versus 34% in group B, p<0.05). Conclusions: The achievement of therapeutic targets of secondary prevention is low after an AIS. Patients are better educated and intensive treatment regimen is administered on secondary prevention after an AIS.