Carbonated Beverage, Fruit Drink, and Water Consumption and Risk of Acute Stroke: the INTERSTROKE Case-Control Study.

Background And Purpose: Cold beverage intake (carbonated drinks, fruit juice/drinks, and water) may be important population-level exposures relevant to stroke risk and prevention. We sought to explore the association between intake of these beverages and stroke.

Methods: INTERSTROKE is an international matched case-control study of first stroke.

From Hospital to Home: Applying a Co-Design Approach to Determine the Key Components of an Intervention to Support Transition-To-Home After Stroke.

Background: People with stroke and their families face numerous challenges as they leave hospital to return home, often experiencing multifaceted unmet needs and feelings of abandonment. The essential elements of an intervention intended to support transition-to-home after stroke are unclear.

Objective: The aim of the project was to engage in a co-design process to identify the key components of a pragmatic intervention to inform a transition-to-home support pathway following stroke.

Towards improving stroke services in Africa: Results from the Africa-UK Stroke Partnership [AUKSP] surveys.

Background: The African Stroke Organization (ASO) in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire's Stroke Research Team launched the Africa-UK Stroke Partnership (AUKSP). AUKSP undertook two (stroke expert and hospital Stroke Unit (SU)) on-line surveys mapping existing capacity and capability to deliver African stroke care.

Methods: An on-line expert survey tool was sent to 139 stroke experts in 54 African countries October 2021-March 2022 and the hospital SU survey to 120 hospital SUs (identified from the expert survey) June-October 2022.

Experiences and preferences of people with stroke and caregivers, around supports provided at the transition from hospital to home: a qualitative descriptive study.

Background: Transitioning home from the structured hospital setting poses challenges for people with stroke (PWS) and their caregivers (CGs), as they navigate through complex uncertainties. There are gaps in our understanding of appropriate support interventions for managing the transition home. In this qualitative study, we explored the perspectives of PWS and their CGs regarding their support experiences and preferences during this period.

Tea and coffee consumption and risk of acute stroke: The INTERSTROKE Study.

Background: Stroke is a leading global cause of death and disability. Daily tea/coffee intake is consumed by > 50% of populations and may represent an important population-level exposure. Therefore, it is first essential that we better understand the associations between the tea/coffee intake and stroke.

Markers of periodontal disease and risk of stroke: INTERSTROKE case-control study.

Background: Periodontal disease may be an important modifiable risk factor for stroke.

Aims: To determine the contribution of markers of periodontal disease to stroke risk globally, within subpopulations, and by stroke subtypes.

Methods: INTERSTROKE is the largest international case-control study of risk factors for first acute stroke.

Blood pressure variability in acute stroke: Risk factors and association with functional outcomes at 1 month.

Background And Purpose: Blood pressure variability, in acute stroke, may be an important modifiable determinant of functional outcome after stroke. In a large international cohort of participants with acute stroke, it was sought to determine the association of blood pressure variability (in the early period of admission) and functional outcomes, and to explore risk factors for increased blood pressure variability.

Patients And Methods: INTERSTROKE is an international case-control study of risk factors for first acute stroke.

Transitioning to home and beyond following stroke: a prospective cohort study of outcomes and needs.

Introduction: Understanding of the needs of people with stroke at hospital discharge and in the first six-months is limited. This study aim was to profile and document the needs of people with stroke at hospital discharge to home and thereafter.

Methods: A prospective cohort study recruiting individuals with stroke, from three hospitals, who transitioned home, either directly, through rehabilitation, or with early supported discharge teams.

Tobacco use and risk of acute stroke in 32 countries in the INTERSTROKE study: a case-control study.

Background: Smoking is a major risk factor for the global burden of stroke. We have previously reported a global population attributable risk (PAR) of stroke of 12.4% associated with current smoking.

Stroke in Sierra Leone. the stroke risk factors for people with HIV: A prospective case-control study.

Background: HIV infection rates are relatively low in Sierra Leone and in West Africa but the contribution of HIV to the risk factors for stroke and outcomes is unknown. In this study, we examined stroke types, presentation, risk factors and outcome in HIV stroke patients compared with controls.

Methods: We used data from the Stroke in Sierra Leone Study at 2 tertiary hospitals in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Strategies for specialty training of healthcare professionals in low-resource settings: a systematic review on evidence from stroke care.

Background: The greatest mortality and disability from stroke occurs in low- and middle-income countries. A significant barrier to implementation of best stroke care practices in these settings is limited availability of specialized healthcare training. We conducted a systematic review to determine the most effective methods for the provision of speciality stroke care education for hospital-based healthcare professionals in low-resource settings.

Stroke resource utilisation and all-cause mortality in Thailand 2017-2020: A retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine resource utilisation, costs and all-cause mortality related to stroke in Thailand.

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Setting And Participants: Patients with first-ever stroke in the Thai national claims database between 2017 and 2020 were included for analysis.

Risk Factors for Stroke in the Young (18-45 Years): A Case-Control Analysis of INTERSTROKE Data from 32 Countries.

Background: It is not clear whether conventional vascular risk factors are responsible for most strokes in patients younger than 45 years of age. Our objective was to evaluate the association of common risk factors with stroke in individuals under 45 years.

Methods: INTERSTROKE was a case-control study carried out in 32 countries between 2007 and 2015.

How do stroke early supported discharge services achieve intensive and responsive service provision? Findings from a realist evaluation study (WISE).

Background: Stroke Early Supported Discharge (ESD) involves provision of responsive and intensive rehabilitation to stroke survivors at home and it is recommended as part of the stroke care pathway. Core components have been identified to guide the delivery of evidence-based ESD, however, service provision in England is of variable quality. The study sought to understand how and in what conditions the adoption of these components drives the delivery of responsive and intensive ESD services in real world settings.

Depressive Symptoms and Risk of Acute Stroke: INTERSTROKE Case-Control Study.

Background And Objectives: Depression has been reported to be a risk factor of acute stroke, based largely on studies in high-income countries. In the INTERSTROKE study, we explored the contribution of depressive symptoms to acute stroke risk and 1-month outcome across regions of the world, within subpopulations and by stroke type.

Methods: The INTERSTROKE is an international case-control study of risk factors of first acute stroke, conducted in 32 countries.

Availability of stroke services and hospital facilities at different hospital levels in Thailand: a cross-sectional survey study.

Background: Stroke has one of the biggest burden of disease in Thailand and all health regions have been tasked to develop their service delivery to achieve the national key performance indicators set out by the Thai service plan strategy 2018-2022. Our aim was to characterise stroke services and hospital facilities by investigating differences in facilities across different hospital levels in Thailand.

Methods: Self-complete questionnaires were distributed to 119 hospitals in 12 health regions between November-December 2019.

Association of Psychosocial Stress With Risk of Acute Stroke.

Importance: Psychosocial stress is considered a modifiable risk factor for stroke. Given the prevalence of chronic and acute exposure to stress, it represents a potentially attractive target for population-health interventions.

Objectives: To determine the association of psychosocial stress with the risk of acute stroke and explore factors that might modify the association of stress with risk of acute stroke in a large international population.

A phase III, multi-arm multi-stage covariate-adjusted response-adaptive randomized trial to determine optimal early mobility training after stroke (AVERT DOSE).

Rationale: The evidence base for acute post-stroke rehabilitation is inadequate and global guideline recommendations vary.

Aim: To define optimal early mobility intervention regimens for ischemic stroke patients of mild and moderate severity.

Hypotheses: Compared with a prespecified reference arm, the optimal dose regimen(s) will result in more participants experiencing little or no disability (mRS 0-2) at 3 months post-stroke (primary), fewer deaths at 3 months, fewer and less severe complications during the intervention period, faster recovery of unassisted walking, and better quality of life at 3 months (secondary).

Research protocol - Assessing Post-Stroke Psychology Longitudinal Evaluation (APPLE) study: A prospective cohort study in stroke.

Background: Cognitive and mood problems have been highlighted as priorities in stroke research and guidelines recommend early screening. However, there is limited detail on the preferred approach.We aimed to (1) determine the optimal methods for evaluating psychological problems that pre-date stroke; (2) assess the test accuracy, feasibility and acceptability of brief cognitive and mood tests used at various time-points following stroke; (3) describe temporal changes in cognition and mood following stroke and explore predictors of change.

Alcohol Intake as a Risk Factor for Acute Stroke: The INTERSTROKE Study.

Background And Objectives: There is uncertainty about the association between alcohol consumption and stroke, particularly for low-moderate intake. We explored these associations in a large international study.

Methods: INTERSTROKE, a case-control study, is the largest international study of risk factors for acute stroke.

Effectiveness of interventions to support the transition home after acute stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Effective support interventions to manage the transition to home after stroke are still mostly unknown.

Aim: The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of support interventions at transition from organised stroke services to independent living at home.

Methods: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, six databases including MEDLINE and Embase, trial registries, grey literature, and Google Scholar were all searched, up to June 2021.