Study to Validate the Effects of an Outpatient Secondary Prevention Program for Stroke Victims

Background

Stroke represents one of the major health problems worldwide, particularly in transitional and industrialized countries. Stroke ranks first as cause of handicap in adults, second as cause of dementia, third as cause of death and is a frequent cause of epilepsy, depression, falls and acute hospital admissions. Stroke has a remarkable socioeconomic impact, especially in the ageing population, and therefore stroke prevention is important.

Stroke begets stroke. Persons who have suffered a stroke are at high risk of suffering additional strokes. Therefore, prevention in these persons should be part of their medical management. However, secondary stroke prevention is complex due to the numerous risk factors and includes pharmacological interventions and non-pharmacological means for risk factor reduction. Up to 90% of the stroke risk is attributable to vascular risk factors. Therefore, appropriate use of all proven measures of risk factor reduction could prevent up to 90% of all strokes. This includes smoking cessation, control of hypertension and diabetes, anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents and lipid lowering drugs, a healthy lifestyle with regular physical activity, healthy normocaloric diet, moderate or no alcohol consumption, low-normal body weight and avoidance of distress. Importantly, effective stroke prevention can only be achieved by the reduction of several or all vascular risk factors.

Secondary preventive measures and rehabilitation are essential for reduction of recurrent events. Furthermore, moderate to severely handicapped patients should receive in- and outpatient rehabilitation adapted to their individual deficits. The concept of secondary prevention through cardiac rehabilitation is an accepted treatment modality in patients after myocardial infarction or aortocoronary bypass surgery. However, appropriate secondary preventive programs for patients surviving a stroke with minor or no residual deficits are lacking. Therefore, the investigators developed a structured 12 week hospital based out-patient program for stroke patients with minor or no residual deficits based on the already existing format of cardiac rehabilitation to optimize secondary stroke prevention, relieve symptoms, improve neurological functioning, and improve health related quality of life.

In a prospective interventional single center cohort pilot study with 105 patients (that is submitted for publication), the investigators showed that a 12 week outpatient rehabilitation program resulted in a considerable improvement of vascular risk factors, neurological functions, and enhanced health related quality of life (see attached abstract).

The aim of this additional study is to validate the effects of this outpatient program in a prospective, randomized clinical trial with crossover design.

Objective

The aim of this study is to validate the effects of an outpatient secondary prevention program on vascular risk factors, adherence to vascular-protective medication, exercise capacity and health related quality of life.

Methods

This is a prospective, randomized clinical trial. At least 100 patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack treated in the University Hospital of Bern will be randomized either to the interventional group or to a group which is treated only by the family physician. All patients will be assessed at baseline, at 3 months and 1 year. The primary outcome is the number of reached cardiovascular health goals (6 metrics: smoking, physical exercise capacity, Mediterranean diet compliance, LDL-Cholesterol, Blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose) between the interventional group and the group which is treated only by the family physician. After inclusion of 100 patients in the study, a study independent statistician will perform a power analysis and the final number of patients to be included will be adapted.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with ischemic stroke and TIA
• Inclusion in the first 60 days after stroke
• Age between 18 and 75 years
• Minor or no residual neurological deficits (mRS 0-1)
• Written consent by the patient

Exclusion criteria

• Severe congestive heart failure (NYHA IV)
• Evidence of disabling stroke or dementia as measured by modified Rankin Scale score of ≥3 or a MOCA score < 26
• Any medical condition which disables a patient to participate physical exercise training