| 1. |
- Appelros, Peter
(författare)
-
Heart failure and stroke
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 37:7, s. 1637-1637
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
| 2. |
- Appelros, Peter, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
-
To Treat or Not to Treat : Anticoagulants as Secondary Preventives to the Oldest Old With Atrial Fibrillation
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 48:6, s. 1617-1622
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Purpose-Anticoagulant treatment is effective for preventing recurrent ischemic strokes in patients who have atrial fibrillation. This benefit is paid by a small increase of hemorrhages. Anticoagulant-related hemorrhages seem to increase with age, but there are few studies showing whether the benefits of treatment persist in old age.Methods-For this observational study, 4 different registers were used, among them Riksstroke, the Swedish Stroke Register. Patients who have had a recent ischemic stroke, were 80 to 100 years of age, and had atrial fibrillation, were included from 2006 through 2013. The patients were stratified into 3 age groups: 80 to 84, 85 to 89, and ?90 years of age. Information on stroke severity, risk factors, drugs, and comorbidities was gathered from the registers. The patients were followed with respect to ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, other hemorrhages, or death.Results-Of all 23 356 patients with atrial fibrillation, 6361 (27%) used anticoagulants after an ischemic stroke. Anticoagulant treatment was associated with less recurrent ischemic stroke in all age groups. Hemorrhages increased most in the >= 90-year age group, but this did not offset the overall beneficial effect of the anticoagulant. Apart from age, no other cardiovascular risk factor or comorbidity was identified that influenced the risk of anticoagulant-associated hemorrhage. Drugs other than anticoagulants did not influence the incidence of major hemorrhage.Conclusions-Given the patient characteristics in this study, there is room for more patients to be treated with anticoagulants, without hemorrhages to prevail. In nonagenarians, hemorrhages increased somewhat more, but this did not affect the overall outcome in this age stratum.
|
|
| 3. |
- Asplund, Kjell, et al.
(författare)
-
Patient dissatisfaction with acute stroke care
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - : American Heart Association, Inc.. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 40:12, s. 3851-3856
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Riks-Stroke, the Swedish Stroke Register, was used to explore patient characteristics and stroke services as determinants of patient dissatisfaction with acute in-hospital care. METHODS: All 79 hospitals in Sweden admitting acute stroke patients participate in Riks-Stroke. During 2001 to 2007, 104,876 patients (87% of survivors) responded to a follow-up questionnaire 3 months after acute stroke; this included questions on satisfaction with various aspects of stroke care. RESULTS: The majority (>90%) were satisfied with acute in-hospital stroke care. Dissatisfaction was closely associated with outcome at 3 months. Patient who were dependent regarding activities of daily living, felt depressed, or had poor self-perceived general health were more likely to be dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction with global acute stroke care was linked to dissatisfaction with other aspects of care, including rehabilitation and support by community services. Patients treated in stroke units were less often dissatisfied than patients in general wards, as were patients who had been treated in a small hospital (vs medium or large hospitals) and patient who had participated in discharge planning. In multivariate analyses, the strongest predictor of dissatisfaction with acute care was poor outcome (dependency regarding activities of daily living, depressed mood, poor self-perceived health). CONCLUSIONS: Dissatisfaction with in-hospital acute stroke care is part of a more extensive complex comprising poor functional outcome, depressive mood, poor self-perceived general health, and dissatisfaction not only with acute care but also with health care and social services at large. Several aspects of stroke care organization are associated with a lower risk of dissatisfaction.
|
|
| 4. |
- Bergh, Cecilia, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
-
Determinants in adolescence of stroke-related hospital stay duration in men : a national cohort study
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - Philadelphia, USA : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 47:9, s. 2416-2418
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and purpose: Physical and psychological characteristics in adolescence are associated with subsequent stroke risk. Our aim is to investigate their relevance to length of hospital stay and risk of second stroke.Methods: Swedish men born between 1952 and 1956 (n=237 879) were followed from 1987 to 2010 using information from population-based national registers. Stress resilience, body mass index, cognitive function, physical fitness, and blood pressure were measured at compulsory military conscription examinations in late adolescence. Joint Cox proportional hazards models estimated the associations of these characteristics with long compared with short duration of stroke-related hospital stay and with second stroke compared with first.Results: Some 3000 men were diagnosed with nonfatal stroke between ages 31 and 58 years. Low stress resilience, underweight, and higher systolic blood pressure (per 1-mm Hg increase) during adolescence were associated with longer hospital stay (compared with shorter) in ischemic stroke, with adjusted relative hazard ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) of 1.46 (1.08-1.89), 1.41 (1.04-1.91), and 1.01 (1.00-1.02), respectively. Elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures during adolescence were associated with longer hospital stay in men with intracerebral hemorrhage: 1.01 (1.00-1.03) and 1.02 (1.00-1.04), respectively. Among both stroke types, obesity in adolescence conferred an increased risk of second stroke: 2.06 (1.21-3.45).Conclusions: Some characteristics relevant to length of stroke-related hospital stay and risk of second stroke are already present in adolescence. Early lifestyle influences are of importance not only to stroke risk by middle age but also to recurrence and use of healthcare resources among stroke survivors.
|
|
| 5. |
- Berglund, Annika, et al.
(författare)
-
Higher prehospital priority level of stroke improves thrombolysis frequency and time to stroke unit : the Hyper Acute STroke Alarm (HASTA) study
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - New York : American Heart Association. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 43:10, s. 2666-2670
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early initiated treatment of stroke increases the chances of a good recovery. This randomized controlled study evaluates how an increased priority level for patients with stroke, from level 2 to 1, from the Emergency Medical Communication Center influences thrombolysis frequency, time to stroke unit, and whether other medical emergencies reported negative consequences.METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 85 years in Stockholm, Sweden, with symptoms of stroke within 6 hours were randomized from the Emergency Medical Communication Center or emergency medical services to an intervention group, priority level 1, immediate call of an ambulance, or to a control group with standard priority level, that is, priority level 2 (within 30 minutes). Before study start, an educational program on identification of stroke and importance of early initiated treatment was directed to all medical dispatchers and ambulance and emergency department personnel.RESULTS: During 2008, 942 patients were randomized of which 53% (n=496) had a final stroke/transient ischemic attack diagnosis. Patients in the Emergency Medical Communication Center randomized intervention group reached the stroke unit 26 minutes earlier than the control group (P<0.001) after the emergency call. Thrombolysis was given to 24% of the patients in the intervention group compared with 10% of the control subjects (P<0.001). The higher priority level showed no negative effect on other critical ill patients requiring priority level 1 prehospital attention.CONCLUSIONS: This randomized study shows negligible harm to other medical emergencies, a significant increase in thrombolysis frequency, and a shorter time to the stroke unit for patients with stroke upgraded to priority level 1 from the Emergency Medical Communication Center and through the acute chain of stroke care.
|
|
| 6. |
- Dennis, Martin, et al.
(författare)
-
Fluoxetine and Fractures After Stroke : Exploratory Analyses From the FOCUS Trial
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 50:11, s. 3280-3282
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Purpose- The FOCUS trial (Fluoxetine or Control Under Supervision) showed that fluoxetine did not improve modified Rankin Scale scores (mRS) but increased the risk of fractures. We aimed to describe the fractures, their impact on mRS and factors associated with fracture risk. Methods- A United Kingdom, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients ≥18 years with a clinical stroke and persisting deficit assessed 2 to 15 days after onset were eligible. Consenting patients were allocated fluoxetine 20 mg or matching placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome was the mRS at 6 months and secondary outcomes included fractures. Results- Sixty-five of 3127 (2.1%) patients had 67 fractures within 6 months of randomization; 43 assigned fluoxetine and 22 placebo. Fifty-nine (90.8%) had fallen and 26 (40%) had fractured their neck of femur. The effect of fluoxetine on mRS (common odds ratio =0.951) was not significantly altered by excluding fracture patients (common odds ratio =0.961). Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that only age >70 year (hazard ratio =1.97; 95% CI, 1.13-3.45; P=0.017), female sex (hazard ratio =2.13; 95% CI, 1.29-3.51; P=0.003), and fluoxetine (hazard ratio =2.00; 95% CI, 1.20-3.34; P=0.008) were independently associated with fractures. Conclusions- Most fractures resulted from falls. Although many fractures were serious, and likely to impair patients' function, the increased fracture risk did not explain the lack of observed effect of fluoxetine on mRS. Only increasing age, female sex, and fluoxetine were independent predictors of fractures. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN83290762.
|
|
| 7. |
- Ding, Mozhu, et al.
(författare)
-
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Associated With Atrial Fibrillation Among Older Adults : A Population-Based Study.
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - : American Heart Association. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 52:8, s. 2685-2689
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral small vessel disease, as a potential mechanism underlying the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia, remains poorly investigated. In this cohort study, we sought to examine the association between AF and cerebral small vessel disease markers among older adults.METHODS: Data on 336 participants (age ≥60 years, mean 70.2 years; 60.2% women) free of dementia, disability, and cerebral infarcts were derived from the population-based Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen. Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging examinations were performed at baseline (2001-2004) and follow-ups (2004-2007 and 2007-2010). Magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease included perivascular spaces, lacunes, and volumes of white matter hyperintensities, lateral ventricles, and total brain tissue. AF was assessed at baseline and follow-ups through clinical examinations, electrocardiogram, and medical records. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.RESULTS: At baseline, 18 persons (5.4%) were identified to have prevalent AF and 17 (5.6%) developed incident AF over the 6-year follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, AF was significantly associated with a faster annual increase in white matter hyperintensities volume (β coefficient=0.45 [95% CI, 0.04-0.86]) and lateral ventricular volume (0.58 [0.13-1.02]). There was no significant association of AF with annual changes in perivascular spaces number (β coefficient=0.53 [95% CI, -0.27 to 1.34]) or lacune number (-0.01 [-0.07 to 0.05]).CONCLUSIONS: Independent of cerebral infarcts, AF is associated with accelerated progression of white matter lesions and ventricular enlargement among older adults.
|
|
| 8. |
- Eriksson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
-
Discarding Heparins as Treatment for Progressive Stroke in Sweden 2001 to 2008
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 41:11, s. 2552-2558
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Purpose - High-dose heparin has been used extensively to treat patients with progressive ischemic stroke, but the scientific support is poor and the current stroke guidelines advise against its use. We studied how heparin treatment for progressive stroke has been discarded in Sweden. Methods - All 78 hospitals in Sweden that admit acute stroke patients participate in Riks-Stroke, the Swedish Stroke Register. During 2001 to 2008, information on the use of high-dose heparin was available for 155 344 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The determinants as to region, patient characteristics, and stroke service settings were analyzed. Results - Use of heparin for progressive stroke declined from 7.5% (2001) to 1.6% (2008) of all patients with ischemic stroke. The marked regional differences present in 2001 were reduced over time. The use of heparin declined at a similar rate in all types of hospital settings, in stroke units vs nonstroke units, and in neurological vs medical wards. Independent predictors of use of heparin included younger age, first-ever stroke, independence in activities of daily living before stroke, atrial fibrillation, no aspirin treatment, and lowered consciousness on admission. Conclusions - There is no immediate, stepwise effect of new scientific information and national guidelines on clinical practice. Rather, the phasing out of heparin has followed a linear course over several years, with less variation between hospitals. We speculate that open comparisons between hospitals in a national stroke register may have helped to reduce the variations in clinical practice.
|
|
| 9. |
- Falkstedt, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
-
Cannabis, Tobacco, Alcohol Use, and the Risk of Early Stroke : A Population-Based Cohort Study of 45000 Swedish Men
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 48:2, s. 265-270
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Purpose - Current knowledge on cannabis use in relation to stroke is based almost exclusively on clinical reports. By using a population-based cohort, we aimed to find out whether there was an association between cannabis use and early-onset stroke, when accounting for the use of tobacco and alcohol.Methods - The cohort comprises 49321 Swedish men, born between 1949 and 1951, who were conscripted into compulsory military service between the ages of 18 and 20. All men answered 2 detailed questionnaires at conscription and were subject to examinations of physical aptitude, psychological functioning, and medical status. Information on stroke events up to approximate to 60 years of age was obtained from national databases; this includes strokes experienced before 45 years of age.Results - No associations between cannabis use in young adulthood and strokes experienced 45 years of age or beyond were found in multivariable models: cannabis use >50 times, hazard ratios=0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.34-2.57) and 0.95 (95% CI, 0.59-1.53). Although an almost doubled risk of ischemic stroke was observed in those with cannabis use >50 times, this risk was attenuated when adjusted for tobacco usage: hazards ratio=1.47 (95% CI, 0.83-2.56). Smoking 20 cigarettes per day was clearly associated both with strokes before 45 years of age, hazards ratio=5.04 (95% CI, 2.80-9.06), and with strokes throughout the follow-up, hazards ratio=2.15 (95% CI, 1.61-2.88).Conclusions - We found no evident association between cannabis use in young adulthood and stroke, including strokes before 45 years of age. Tobacco smoking, however, showed a clear, dose-response shaped association with stroke.
|
|
| 10. |
- Fiskesund, Roland, et al.
(författare)
-
Low levels of antibodies against phosphorylcholine predict development of stroke in a population-based study from northern Sweden
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Stroke. - 0039-2499 .- 1524-4628. ; 41:4, s. 607-612
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Natural immunoglobulin M antibodies specific for phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) have been implicated in atherosclerosis. We have shown previously that high levels of anti-PC predict a slower progression of atherosclerosis in humans and that low levels of anti-PC are associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Here we determine the association between anti-PC and the incidence of stroke. METHODS: Using a nested case control study design, we examined 227 incident cases (125 men and 102 women) of first-time stroke and 455 age- and sex-matched controls identified during a 13-year time period (1985 to 1999) within the population-based cohorts of the Västerbotten Intervention Project (VIP) and the World Health Organization Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (WHO MONICA) project in Northern Sweden. Odds ratios of stroke with 95% CIs with adjustments for age, gender, smoking, serum cholesterol, diabetes, body mass index, and blood pressure were determined. Anti-PC levels were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: A significant association between low levels of anti-PC at baseline and incident stroke was seen for the whole group of anti-PC levels below the 30th percentile (multivariately adjusted odds ratio, 1.62; CI, 1.11 to 2.35). Analyses of gender-specific associations indicated fairly strong associations for females, especially at the lowest 30th percentile (multivariately adjusted odds ratio, 2.65; CI, 1.41 to 4.95). No associations were noted for men. CONCLUSION: Low anti-PC is a novel independent risk marker for development of stroke. Measurements of anti-PC could be used to identify immunodeficient subjects at an increased risk for stroke. The possibility that such subjects might be targets for novel modes of treatment such as immunotherapies deserves further investigation.
|
|
