title: [Benefit of a short atherosclerosis prevention program on post-stroke vascular risk reduction].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke. Despite important therapeutic advances, the risk of recurrence of vascular events remains very high. The partial failure of these strategies is to some extent related to the lack of patient adherence to their treatments and to the fact that therapeutic targets are not reached. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of a short atherosclerosis prevention program on vascular risk reduction in stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five patients with a first ischemic stroke related to atherosclerosis or with a high vascular risk profile were recruited. Three months later, a global evaluation of the atherosclerotic disease and of the vascular risk factors was performed combined with several education sessions on vascular risk factors and way of life. A follow-up evaluation was performed several months later to investigate the number of vascular events and the vascular risk profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 684 days after stroke. At follow-up, 91.3% of patients were taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, 95.6% an anti-thrombotic agent, and 78% an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. A persistent decrease in tobacco use and an improvement in glycemic control were observed. During follow-up, 3.2% of patients died; none of the deaths were related to a vascular event. During the 22-month follow-up, 7.6% of patients experienced a major vascular event, acute coronary syndrome or stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with results in the literature, this study illustrates the positive influence of a short atherosclerosis prevention program combining depiction of atherosclerotic lesions and education of vascular risk factors on the quality of long-term post-stroke prevention.
authors: Unité neurovasculaire, pôle de neurosciences cliniques, hôpital Pellegrin, CHU de Bordeaux, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Kazadi
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Sibon
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lafitte
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Pucheu
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Renou
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Rouanet
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Couffinhal
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013534:Survival; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents