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- Ban, Lu, et al.
(author)
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Incidence of First Stroke in Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women of Childbearing Age : A Population-Based Cohort Study From England
- 2017
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In: Journal of the American Heart Association. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2047-9980. ; 6:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Pregnant women may have an increased risk of stroke compared with nonpregnant women of similar age, but the magnitude and the timing of such risk are unclear. We examined the risk of a first stroke event in women of childbearing age and compared the risk during pregnancy and in the early postpartum period with the background risk outside these periods.METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted an open cohort study of 2 046 048 women aged 15 to 49 years between April 1, 1997, and March 31, 2014, using linked primary (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) and secondary (Hospital Episode Statistics) care records in England. Risk of first stroke was assessed by calculating the incidence rate of stroke in antepartum, peripartum (2 days before until 1 day after delivery), and early (first 6 weeks) and late (second 6 weeks) postpartum periods compared with nonpregnant time using a Poisson regression model with adjustment for maternal age, socioeconomic group, and calendar time. A total of 2511 women had a first stroke. The incidence rate of stroke was 25.0 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 24.0-26.0) in nonpregnant time. The rate was lower antepartum (10.7 per 100 000 person-years, 95% CI 7.6-15.1) but 9-fold higher peripartum (161.1 per 100 000 person-years, 95% CI 80.6-322.1) and 3-fold higher early postpartum (47.1 per 100 000 person-years, 95% CI 31.3-70.9). Rates of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke both increased peripartum and early postpartum.CONCLUSIONS: Although the absolute risk of first stroke is low in women of childbearing age, healthcare professionals should be aware of a considerable increase in relative risk during the peripartum and early postpartum periods.
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- Best, Jonathan G., et al.
(author)
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Optimal timing of anticoagulation after acute ischemic stroke with atrial fibrillation (OPTIMAS) : Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Stroke. - : SAGE Publications. - 1747-4930 .- 1747-4949. ; 17:5, s. 583-589
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Atrial fibrillation causes one-fifth of ischemic strokes, with a high risk of early recurrence. Although long-term anticoagulation is highly effective for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, initiation after stroke is usually delayed by concerns over intracranial hemorrhage risk. Direct oral anticoagulants offer a significantly lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage than other anticoagulants, potentially allowing earlier anticoagulation and prevention of recurrence, but the safety and efficacy of this approach has not been established. Aim: Optimal timing of anticoagulation after acute ischemic stroke with atrial fibrillation (OPTIMAS) will investigate whether early treatment with a direct oral anticoagulant, within four days of stroke onset, is as effective or better than delayed initiation, 7 to 14 days from onset, in atrial fibrillation patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods and design: OPTIMAS is a multicenter randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome adjudication. Participants with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation eligible for anticoagulation with a direct oral anticoagulant are randomized 1:1 to early or delayed initiation. As of December 2021, 88 centers in the United Kingdom have opened. Study outcomes: The primary outcome is a composite of recurrent stroke (ischemic stroke or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage) and systemic arterial embolism within 90 days. Secondary outcomes include major bleeding, functional status, anticoagulant adherence, quality of life, health and social care resource use, and length of hospital stay. Sample size target: A total of 3478 participants assuming event rates of 11.5% in the control arm and 8% in the intervention arm, 90% power and 5% alpha. We will follow a non-inferiority gatekeeper analysis approach with a non-inferiority margin of 2 percentage points. Discussion: OPTIMAS aims to provide high-quality evidence on the safety and efficacy of early direct oral anticoagulant initiation after atrial fibrillation-associated ischemic stroke. Trial registrations: ISRCTN: 17896007; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03759938
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- Lorenzano, Svetlana, et al.
(author)
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SiPP (Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum) : A prospective, observational, international, multicentre study on pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical profile, management and outcome of cerebrovascular diseases in pregnant and postpartum women
- 2020
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 5:2, s. 193-203
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Cerebrovascular diseases associated with pregnancy and postpartum period are uncommon; however, they can have an important impact on health of both women and foetus or newborn. Aims: To evaluate the frequency, characteristics and management of cerebrovascular events in pregnant/postpartum women, to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the occurrence of these events including biomolecular aspects, and to assess the short- and long-term cerebrovascular and global cardiovascular outcome of these patients, their predictors and infant outcome. Methods and design: This is an observational, prospective, multicentre, international case–control study. The study will include patients with cerebrovascular events during pregnancy and/or within six months after delivery. For each included case, two controls will be prospectively recruited: one pregnant or puerperal subject without any history of cerebrovascular event and one non-pregnant or non-puerperal subject with a recent cerebrovascular event. All controls will be matched by age, ethnicity and type of cerebrovascular event with their assigned cases. The pregnant controls will be matched also by pregnancy weeks/trimester. Follow-up will last 24 months for the mother and 12 months for the infant. Summary: To better understand causes and outcomes of uncommon conditions like pregnancy/postpartum-related cerebrovascular events, the development of multisite, multidisciplinary registry-based studies, such as the Stroke in Pregnancy and Postpartum study, is needed in order to collect an adequate number of patients, draw reliable conclusions and give definite recommendations on their management.
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5. |
- Sandset, Else Charlotte, et al.
(author)
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Women in the European Stroke Organisation : One, two, many… – A Top Down and Bottom Up approach
- 2019
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 4:3, s. 247-253
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: An increasing proportion of physicians are women, yet they still face challenges with career advancement. In 2014, the European Stroke Organisation established the goal of increasing the number and participation of women within the society using a Top Down and Bottom Up approach. The ‘Women’s Initiative for Stroke in Europe’ was created the same year by a group of women active within the organisation. We aimed to assess the current status of women in European Stroke Organisation, and to explore the change in sex differences after the introduction of focused approaches to address disparities in 2014. Methods: Using organisational records, we collected data on sex differences in core activities from 2008 up to 2017 including membership, participation in conferences, courses and in the official journal of the society, and positions of seniority and leadership. We estimated sex distribution differences in each of the activities from 2014 to date. Results: In 2017, the proportion of female members was 40%, while 24% of fellows, 22% of the executive board and 19% of the editorial board in the official journal of the society were women. From 2014 to 2017, there was a significant increase in the proportion of female members (p = 0.0002) and in women participating in the annual conference as faculty (p = 0.001). There was no significant change in the sex distribution among the faculty members in junior educational activities (≤27%) or fellows. Interpretation: In 2017, the proportion of women holding positions of seniority and leadership is still significantly lower to the proportion of women attending educational activities. Transparent data on sex distribution will assist implementing tailored programmes to achieve progress against sex-based barriers.
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- Sprigg, Nikola, et al.
(author)
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elationship between outcome and baseline blood pressure and other haemodynamic measures in acute ischaemic stroke : Data from the TAIST trial
- 2006
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In: Journal of Hypertension. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 24:7, s. 1413-1417
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: A poor outcome after stroke is associated independently with high blood pressure during the acute phase, however, relationships with other haemodynamic measures [heart rate (HR), pulse pressure (PP), rate-pressure product (RPP)] remain less clear. METHODS: The Tinzaparin in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Trial is a randomised, controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of tinzaparin versus aspirin in 1484 patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and HR measurements taken immediately prior to randomization were averaged, and the mid-blood pressure (MBP), PP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure index, and RPP were calculated. The relationship between these haemodynamic measures and functional outcome (death or dependency, modified Rankin Scale > 2) and early recurrent stroke, were studied with adjustment for baseline prognostic factors and treatment group. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) refer to a change in haemodynamic measure by 10 points. RESULTS: A poor functional outcome was associated with SBP (adjusted OR, 1.11, 95% CI, 1.03-1.21), HR (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.00-1.31), MBP (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.03-1.29), PP (adjusted OR, 1.14, 95% CI, 1.02-1.26), MAP (adjusted OR, 1.15, 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and RPP (adjusted OR, 1.01, 95% CI, 1.00-1.02). Early recurrent stroke was associated with SBP, DBP, MBP and MAP. CONCLUSIONS: A poor outcome is independently associated with elevations in blood pressure, HR and their derived haemodynamic variables, including PP and the RPP. Agents that modify these measures may improve functional outcome after stroke. © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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