The Effect of Active and Non-Active Follow-Up of Patients on the Recurrence of Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background: Stroke is the third cause of death in the US. Due to its associated mortality and morbidity, it is a very important disease, and recurrent stroke increases the risk of both conditions. Atherosclerotic risk factors are the most common, and yet modifiable, risk factors for stroke. Therefore, stroke prevention should be focused on the treatment of these underlying factors of the disease. Despite the same medical treatments for this disease in various communities, the discernable difference in recurrent stroke in different studies (ranging from 3% to 23.2%) suggests this difference can be attributed to the lack of appropriate control of modifiable risk factors for this condition in communities with higher incidence of stroke. Hence, the present study aimed at testing this hypothesis. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 76 patients with ischemic stroke were assigned to two groups of active follow-up and non-active follow-up of risk factors. The subjects in the two groups were studied and compared with respect to control of risk factors and recurrent ischemic stroke at the beginning and at the end of the research. Results: The rates of recurrent stroke within 6 months from the beginning of the study in the active and non-active follow-up groups were 2.8% and 13.8%, respectively. In addition, the chance of recurrent stroke in the non-active follow-up group was 5 times more than that in the active follow-up group (OR = 5, CI = 95%). Conclusions: Active follow-up of patients after the first stroke leads to a better control of ischemic stroke risk factors and reduces its recurrence rate.