Stroke care quality and outcomes

The benefits of thrombolytics (clot buster) in patients with acute ischemic stroke are time-dependent, and guidelines recommend a door-to-needle time of 60 minutes or less. However, studies have shown that less than 30 percent of U.S. patients are treated within this window.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in stroke patients. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The incidence of VTE among patients with stroke is high, and PE remains the third-highest cause of mortality in stroke.

Current data suggests that antithrombotic therapy (ATT) should be prescribed at discharge following acute ischemic stroke to reduce stroke mortality and morbidity.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is responsible for approximately 20–30% of ischemic strokes, especially in older patients. Long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) represents an effective treatment for preventing stroke in AF patients.

An antithrombotic is a medication that prevents blood clots. Current studies suggest antithrombotic therapy should be administered within 2 days of symptom onset in acute ischemic stroke patients to reduce stroke mortality and morbidity.

A study of more than 135,000 people at risk for a heart attack or stroke found that those who took statins had a 25% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who did not take statins.

Management of risk factors remains extremely important in secondary stroke prevention, including (but not limited to) diabetes, smoking cessation, lipids, and especially hypertension. Intensive medical management, often performed by multidisciplinary teams, is usually best, with goals of therapy tailored to the individual patient. Lifestyle factors, including healthy diet and physical activity, are important for preventing a second stroke. Low-salt and Mediterranean diets are recommended for stroke risk reduction. Patients with stroke are especially at risk for sedentary and prolonged sitting behaviors, and they should be encouraged to perform physical activity in a supervised and safe manner.

Stroke rehabilitation is a program of different therapies designed to help you relearn skills lost after a stroke. Rehabilitation methods can depend on the parts of your brain affected by the stroke. Rehabilitation can help with movement, speech, strength and daily living skills. Stroke rehabilitation can help you regain independence and improve your quality of life.

Cerebral angiography is an important test to determine if there are any abnormalities within the arteries of the brain. This procedure does come with risk. Studies have shown that 0.5% risk of a stroke can occur with this diagnostic test.

Stroke readmissions are common and associated with a high mortality, morbidity and cost. According to the American Stroke Association, up to 12% of patients with ischemic stroke get readmitted within 30 days following discharge.

Stroke associated pneumonia is one of the most common post stroke infections with a prevalence of 14.3%.