Initiation of post-stroke treatment before patients leave hospital improves long-term treatment management

This study looked at post-stroke treatments received either during discharge from hospital or within 1 year after stroke. They evaluated health outcomes after 10 years to see if receiving early prescriptions influences long-term treatment management. 

A stroke occurs when there is a disturbance of blood supply to a part of the brain. This can be caused by a blood clot in the brain (ischemic stroke) or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Both types of stroke lead to a lack of oxygen and food reaching the brain tissue, and may result in cell death and disability.

Once a person has a stroke, they are at a higher risk of having another stroke or further vascular (blood vessel) problems such as heart attack. Therefore treatment after stroke onset (known as secondary treatment) is very important in reducing these risks and for leading a healthy life.

This study looked at treatments such as antihypertensive drugs that reduce high blood pressure (a risk factor for stroke), and statin and antithrombotic drugs that prevent blood clot formation (only in the case of ischemic stroke which is caused by the blood clotting) given either before hospital discharge or within 1 year after stroke and investigated if there is an optimal time to start post-stoke treatment that influences better long-term treatment management.

In this study, 1,241 stroke patients were recruited and date of treatment initiation was recorded. The study found that in-hospital initiation of post-stroke medication, before patients left the hospital, increased the likelihood  of medication continuation 10 years after stroke. Those who received a prescription for post-stroke medication before leaving the hospital were 32 times more likely to still be taking medication after 2 years compared to those who did not. By 10 years, those who had received a prescription for post-stroke medication before leaving hospital were 2.6 times as likely to still be taking medication.

The study found that those who started treatment after hospital discharge and within 1 year were less likely to be on post-stroke medication and therefore could be at higher risk of stroke recurrence and further health problems. 

The study concludes that when post-stroke medication is initiated before patients leave hospital, it increases the likelihood that optimal treatment is reached and continued for longer. This helps improve long-term treatment management and hence reduce further heart and stroke problems. 

All medications taken from patients after the 1^st year and within the 10 year period were self-reported so the accuracy of these reports is unknown. 

If you or someone you know have recently had a stroke or at risk of having a stroke, talk to your doctor about receiving optimal post-stroke treatment before leaving the hospital as it may encourage proper long-term management.