Secondary prevention in a large stroke population: a study of patients' purchase of recommended drugs.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, linked, anonymous data from The National Hospital Discharge Register and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register were used for studying to what extent recommended drugs for secondary prevention after stroke and TIA were purchased by patients in the region of Stockholm, Sweden (2 million inhabitants).


METHODS
Data on purchased drugs for secondary stroke prevention during July 2005 to June 2006 by 17 902 patients >18 years discharged after stroke or TIA during the period 1997 to June 2005 were analyzed by age, gender, and year of discharge.


RESULTS
Antiplatelets and warfarin were purchased by 87% of all stroke and 83% of all TIA patients, antihypertensives by 74% and 70%, and lipid lowering drugs by 41% and 39%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Time after discharge had only a minor influence on the proportion of patients purchasing the medicines.
Wettermark
Björn
B
Persson
Anna
A
von Euler
Mia
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013548:Sweden
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents