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Secondary prevention of stroke in elderly people in Poland—Results of PolSenior study
Affiliations- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
- Department of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency of use of oral antiplatelet (OAP) and anticoagulant (OAC) drugs as secondary stroke prevention among older people in Poland and its association with sociodemographic factors, place of residence, and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors.
Material and methodsThe study group consisted of 426 subjects with a history of a previous stroke (mean age of 81.5±8.2 years), participants of multicentre, population-based PolSenior study.
ResultsAmong the study group, 261 people (61.3%) used at least one drug as a secondary prevention. OAPs were regularly used by 237 people (55.6%), and OACs—by 25 people (5.9%). The most often used drug was acetylsalicylic acid. Ticlopidine was more frequently used than clopidogrel, and acenocoumarol was used more often than warfarin. Among all of the concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, congestive heart failure was mostly associated with OAP treatment, and a history of atrial fibrillation—with OAC treatment. Use of drugs did not depend on age, sex, place of residence (rural or urban), level of education and personal income, but it was associated with the region where the respondents lived.
ConclusionsSecondary cardiovascular preventive therapy in Poland is used too rarely in older people after stroke, and it especially concerns anticoagulant therapy in those with a history of atrial fibrillation. Structured educational programmes should be developed in Poland to improve usage of secondary preventive therapy in the elderly.
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency of use of oral antiplatelet (OAP) and anticoagulant (OAC) drugs as secondary stroke prevention among older people in Poland and its association with sociodemographic factors, place of residence, and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors.
Material and methodsThe study group consisted of 426 subjects with a history of a previous stroke (mean age of 81.5±8.2 years), participants of multicentre, population-based PolSenior study.
ResultsAmong the study group, 261 people (61.3%) used at least one drug as a secondary prevention. OAPs were regularly used by 237 people (55.6%), and OACs—by 25 people (5.9%). The most often used drug was acetylsalicylic acid. Ticlopidine was more frequently used than clopidogrel, and acenocoumarol was used more often than warfarin. Among all of the concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, congestive heart failure was mostly associated with OAP treatment, and a history of atrial fibrillation—with OAC treatment. Use of drugs did not depend on age, sex, place of residence (rural or urban), level of education and personal income, but it was associated with the region where the respondents lived.
ConclusionsSecondary cardiovascular preventive therapy in Poland is used too rarely in older people after stroke, and it especially concerns anticoagulant therapy in those with a history of atrial fibrillation. Structured educational programmes should be developed in Poland to improve usage of secondary preventive therapy in the elderly.
Keywords
Stroke, The elderly, Secondary prevention, Oral anticoagulant drugs, Antiplatelet drugs, Acetylsalicylic acid
About this articleTitle
Secondary prevention of stroke in elderly people in Poland—Results of PolSenior study
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Pages
85-90
Page views
285
Article views/downloads
500
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2013.11.001
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2014;48(2):85-90.
Keywords
Stroke
The elderly
Secondary prevention
Oral anticoagulant drugs
Antiplatelet drugs
Acetylsalicylic acid
Authors
Beata Łabuz-Roszak
Michał Skrzypek
Krystyna Pierzchała
Agnieszka Machowska-Majchrzak
Małgorzata Mossakowska
Jerzy Chudek
Iwona Mańka-Gaca
Wojciech Bartman
Andrzej Więcek
