Vascular risk factor awareness before and pharmacological treatment before and after stroke and TIA.
OBJECTIVE
Educating the public to screen for vascular risk factors and have them treated is a major public health issue. We assessed the vascular risk factor awareness and frequency of treatment in a cohort of patients with cerebral ischaemia.


METHODS
Data on awareness and pharmacological treatment of vascular risk factors before hospital admission of patients with confirmed ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) were analyzed. A follow-up questionnaire assessed the frequency of treatment 1 year after discharge and assessed non-adherence to antithrombotic medication.


RESULTS
At time of stroke/TIA, individual awareness regarding existing hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and atrial fibrillation (AF) was 83%, 87%, 73% and 69% respectively (n = 558). Pharmacological treatment for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and AF was being administered in 80%, 77%, 37% and 62% of patients aware of their conditions. The follow-up was completed by 383 patients (80% recall rate): of the patients with hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and AF, 89%, 78%, 45% and 86% were receiving risk factor targeted medication. This represents a significant increase concerning AF and hyperlipidemia. Non-adherence to recommended antithrombotics (15%) was higher in patients who had had a TIA.


CONCLUSIONS
All risk factors leave room for improvement in screening and treatment efforts. Adherence to treatment is higher for hypertension and diabetes than for hyperlipidemia. Education efforts should bear in mind less well recognized risk factors.
Nolte
C H
CH
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Charite, Berlin, Germany.
Jungehulsing
G J
GJ
Rossnagel
K
K
Roll
S
S
Haeusler
K G
KG
Reich
A
A
Willich
S N
SN
Villringer
A
A
Muller-Nordhorn
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents