Secondary prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. What is the evidence?
Patients who had a transient ischemic attack or stroke are at increased risk of experiencing recurrent cerebrovascular events. For this reason, secondary prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular disease is essential. Several modifiable, lifestyle-associated risk factors have been implicated, such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Established and emerging vascular risk factors are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Pharmacologic treatment, including the use of antiplatelet, antihypertensive, and lipid-lowering agents, has also been shown to reduce the risk of secondary cerebrovascular events. Surgical intervention, either open or endovascular, may be the preferred therapeutic option in well-defined subsets of patients. It is important to establish specific measures for the early detection and prevention of recurrent cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, further research and greater awareness in this field are needed.
Paraskevas
Kosmas I
KI
Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece. paraskevask@hotmail.com
Daskalopoulou
Stella S
SS
Daskalopoulos
Marios E
ME
Liapis
Christos D
CD
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008019:Life Style; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors