In a nutshell
This study looked at whether patients should be prescribed antihypertensive medication after stroke. The authors concluded that treatment with antihypertensive medication reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in stroke patients.
Some background
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is associated with stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Antihypertensive medication is used to lower blood pressure and can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It has been recommended that stroke patients be treated with antihypertensive medication after stroke. More recently however, the guidelines recommended treatment with antihypertensive therapy several days after stroke. Therefore, whether or not antihypertensive medicines should be prescribed after stroke is unclear.
Methods & findings
This study examined the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in stroke patients treated with antihypertensive medication compared to those who were not. 12,198 stroke patients were included in this study. 70% were treated with antihypertensive medication after stroke.
After 180 days, 785 patients had died. Of these, 521 deaths were due to cardiovascular disease.
8,786 patients were compared in the final analysis. Patients were similar in a number of factors, including ability to walk and where they were sent following hospital discharge. Of these, patients treated with antihypertensive medication had a 23% reduced risk of death due to cardiovascular disease.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that patients prescribed with antihypertensive medications after stroke had a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Published By :
Neurology
Date :
Jan 31, 2018
