Physician's Weekly Article - Assessing Preventive Drug Use in Stroke Survivors

       Swedish research suggests that persistent secondary prevention treatment declines rapidly during the first 2 years after stroke, particularly for statins and warfarin. The proportion of patients who were persistent users of drugs prescribed at hospital discharge declined progressively over the first 2 years. Advanced age, comorbidity, good self-perceived health, absence of low mood, acute treatment in a stroke unit, and institutional living at follow-up were independently associated with persistent medication use for most drugs. The authors concluded that “effective interventions to improve persistent secondary prevention after stroke need to be developed.”

      Source: Stroke, January 14, 2010 (online).