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- Ahmed, Niaz, et al.
(author)
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Consensus statements and recommendations from the ESO-Karolinska Stroke Update Conference, Stockholm 11-13 November 2018.
- 2019
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 4:4, s. 307-317
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of the European Stroke Organisation-Karolinska Stroke Update Conference is to provide updates on recent stroke therapy research and to give an opportunity for the participants to discuss how these results may be implemented into clinical routine. The meeting started 22 years ago as Karolinska Stroke Update, but since 2014 it is a joint conference with European Stroke Organisation. Importantly, it provides a platform for discussion on the European Stroke Organisation guidelines process and on recommendations to the European Stroke Organisation guidelines committee on specific topics. By this, it adds a direct influence from stroke professionals otherwise not involved in committees and work groups on the guideline procedure. The discussions at the conference may also inspire new guidelines when motivated. The topics raised at the meeting are selected by the scientific programme committee mainly based on recent important scientific publications. This year's European Stroke Organisation-Karolinska Stroke Update Meeting was held in Stockholm on 11-13 November 2018. There were 11 scientific sessions discussed in the meeting including two short sessions. Each session except the short sessions produced a consensus statement (Full version with background, issues, conclusions and references are published as web-material and at www.eso-karolinska.org and http://eso-stroke.org) and recommendations which were prepared by a writing committee consisting of session chair(s), scientific secretary and speakers. These statements were presented to the 250 participants of the meeting. In the open meeting, general participants commented on the consensus statement and recommendations and the final document were adjusted based on the discussion from the general participants Recommendations (grade of evidence) were graded according to the 1998 Karolinska Stroke Update meeting with regard to the strength of evidence. Grade A Evidence: Strong support from randomised controlled trials and statistical reviews (at least one randomised controlled trial plus one statistical review). Grade B Evidence: Support from randomised controlled trials and statistical reviews (one randomised controlled trial or one statistical review). Grade C Evidence: No reasonable support from randomised controlled trials, recommendations based on small randomised and/or non-randomised controlled trials evidence.
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2. |
- Lundström, Erik, Docent, 1964-, et al.
(author)
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The Effects Of Fluoxetine On Fracture Risk After Stroke : Further Analyses From The Focus Trial
- 2019
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background and Aims: The FOCUS trial showed that 20mg of fluoxetine daily, for six months, started 2–15 days post stroke had no effect on the modified Rankin scale (mRS), reduced the risk of new depression (Risk difference 3.8%) but increased the risk of bone fractures (Risk difference 1.4%). Further analyses aimed to explore the factors associated with bone fractures.Methods: Sixty five of the 3127 (2.1%) patients enrolled had a fracture within six months of randomisation. Of these 59 (90.8%) resulted from a fall and 26 (40%) affected the neck of femur. Cox proportional hazards modelling of the risk of fracture showed that only age ≤70yr (Hazard Ratio = 0.51 (95%CI 0.29-0.89; p = 0.017), female sex (HR = 2.13 (1.29-3.51; p = 0.003) and fluoxetine treatment (HR = 2.00 (1.20-3.34; p = 0.008) were independent predictors. Stroke pathology, severity, type of deficit, prior fractures, other medication affecting blood pressure, bone density and balance had no significant effect. Furthermore, removing patients with a fracture from the primary analysis did not significantly alter the effect on mRS (Common odds ratio 0.951 with fractures, 0.961 without).Results: Only increasing age, female sex and fluoxetine were independent predictors of fracture risk. Most fractures resulted from falls. Although many of the fractures were serious, and are likely to have impaired patients’ function, the increased fracture risk did not explain the lack of observed effect of fluoxetine on mRS.Conclusions: A future individual patient data meta-analysis including the patients from the ongoing AFFINITY and EFFECTS trials may clarify the mechanism of fractures due to fluoxetine.Trial registration number: ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN83290762.
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3. |
- Lundström, Erik, Docent, 1964-
(author)
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Update On The Effects Trial Of Fluoxetine For Stroke Recovery : An Investigator-Led Randomised Controlled Study In Sweden
- 2019
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 4:1 suppl.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Aims: Animal studies and several small human studies suggest that fluoxetine improves neurological recovery after stroke. In contrast, the most recent and largest fluoxetine study for stroke recovery (FOCUS trial, N = 3,127) was neutral. This abstract presents un update on EFFECTS, a trial of fluoxetine for stroke recovery.Methods: In this investigator-led, multicentre, parallel group, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, we enrolled non-depressed stroke patients aged 18 years or older between 2-5 days after stroke. Inclusion required a clinical diagnosis of stroke (ischaemic or intracere- bral haemorrhage) with persisting focal neurological deficits. Patients were randomly assigned to fluoxetine 20 mg once daily or placebo cap- sules for 6 months.The primary outcome is functional status, measured with the modified Rankin scale at the 6-month follow-up, using ordinal logistic regression. Results: Recruitment began on 20 October 2014. Half of the 1,500 patients were recruited from 20% of the centres. The results will be available within one year.Conclusions: The data from the trial will improve the external validity and precision of the estimates of the efficacy and safety of fluoxetine in ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Trial registration number: EudraCT 2011-006130-16. Registered on 8 August 2014.ISRCTN, ISRCTN13020412. Registered on 19 December 2014. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02683213, retrospectively registered on 2 February 2016
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4. |
- Paciaroni, Maurizio, et al.
(author)
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Early recurrence in paroxysmal versus sustained atrial fibrillation in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.
- 2019
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In: European stroke journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9881 .- 2396-9873. ; 4:1, s. 55-64
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationship between different patterns of atrial fibrillation and early recurrence after an acute ischaemic stroke is unclear.In a prospective cohort study, we evaluated the rates of early ischaemic recurrence after an acute ischaemic stroke in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or sustained atrial fibrillation which included persistent and permanent atrial fibrillation.In patients with acute ischaemic stroke, atrial fibrillation was categorised as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or sustained atrial fibrillation. Ischaemic recurrences were the composite of ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack and symptomatic systemic embolism occurring within 90 days from acute index stroke.A total of 2150 patients (1155 females, 53.7%) were enrolled: 930 (43.3%) had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 1220 (56.7%) sustained atrial fibrillation. During the 90-day follow-up, 111 ischaemic recurrences were observed in 107 patients: 31 in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (3.3%) and 76 with sustained atrial fibrillation (6.2%) (hazard ratio (HR) 1.86 (95% CI 1.24-2.81)). Patients with sustained atrial fibrillation were on average older, more likely to have diabetes mellitus, hypertension, history of stroke/ transient ischaemic attack, congestive heart failure, atrial enlargement, high baseline NIHSS-score and implanted pacemaker. After adjustment by Cox proportional hazard model, sustained atrial fibrillation was not associated with early ischaemic recurrences (adjusted HR 1.23 (95% CI 0.74-2.04)).After acute ischaemic stroke, patients with sustained atrial fibrillation had a higher rate of early ischaemic recurrence than patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. After adjustment for relevant risk factors, sustained atrial fibrillation was not associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence, thus suggesting that the risk profile associated with atrial fibrillation, rather than its pattern, is determinant for recurrence.
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5. |
- Ratajczak-Tretel, Barbara, et al.
(author)
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Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack – The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study : Rationale and design
- 2019
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In: European Stroke Journal. - : SAGE Publications. - 2396-9873 .- 2396-9881. ; 4:2, s. 172-180
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often suspected as a probable cause of cryptogenic stroke. Continuous long-term ECG monitoring using insertable cardiac monitors is a clinically effective technique to screen for atrial fibrillation and superior to conventional follow-up in cryptogenic stroke. However, more studies are needed to identify factors which can help selecting patients with the highest possibility of detecting atrial fibrillation with prolonged rhythm monitoring. The clinical relevance of short-term atrial fibrillation, the need for medical intervention and the evaluation as to whether intervention results in improved clinical outcomes should be assessed. Method: The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Study is an international, multicentre, prospective, observational trial evaluating the occurrence of occult atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack. Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischaemic attack from the Nordic countries are included and will have the Reveal LINQ® Insertable cardiac monitor system implanted for 12 months for atrial fibrillation detection. Biomarkers which can be used as predictors for atrial fibrillation and may identify patients, who could derive the most clinical benefit from the detection of atrial fibrillation by prolonged monitoring, are being studied. Conclusion: The primary endpoint is atrial fibrillation burden within 12 months of continuous rhythm monitoring. Secondary endpoints are atrial fibrillation burden within six months, levels of biomarkers predicting atrial fibrillation, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score, incidence of recurrent stroke or transient ischaemic attack, use of anticoagulation and antiarrhythmic drugs, and quality of life measurements. The clinical follow-up period is 12 months. The study started in 2017 and the completion is expected at the end of 2020.
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6. |
- 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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