Prediabetes and diabetes mellitus type II after ischemic stroke.

Introduction: The progression of diabetes status in post-stroke patients remains under-investigated, particularly regarding new treatments for type II diabetes mellitus (DM II), like glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RA) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which have not been studied in the post-stroke setting.

Patients And Methods: Eight hundred eighty-four consecutive ischemic stroke patients recruited to our prospective STROKE-CARD Registry were assessed concerning their glycemic status at baseline (normoglycemia, prediabetes, DM II) and change over time within 1 year follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with transitioning from normoglycemia to prediabetes or DM II.

Intensified post-stroke care improves long-term dysphagia recovery after acute ischemic stroke: Results from the STROKE CARD trial.

Introduction: Dysphagia is common after acute ischemic stroke and entails considerable morbidity and mortality. Here, we investigated the impact of intensified care on swallowing recovery after stroke.

Patients And Methods: In this secondary analysis of STROKE-CARD, a randomized intervention trial of intensified post-stroke care, dysphagia was assessed by speech therapists at admission for acute ischemic stroke, at hospital discharge, and after 12-months.

Comorbidities associated with dysphagia after acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Pre-existing comorbidities increase the likelihood of post-stroke dysphagia. This study investigates comorbidity prevalence in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke.

Methods: The data of patients with acute ischemic stroke from two large representative cohorts (STROKE-CARD trial 2014-2019 and STROKE-CARD registry 2020-2022 - both study center Innsbruck, Austria) were analyzed for the presence of dysphagia at hospital admission (clinical swallowing examination).

Association between dysphagia and symptoms of depression and anxiety after ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Dysphagia is associated with poor outcome, higher mortality, reduced quality of life, and social isolation. We investigate the relationship between swallowing impairment and symptoms of anxiety and depression after ischemic stroke.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke participating in the prospective STROKE-CARD Registry study from 2020 to 2022 were assessed for dysphagia on hospital admission (clinical swallowing assessment) and for persistence until discharge and 3-month follow-up (SINGER Independency Index).

No association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and ischaemic stroke or high-risk transient ischaemic attack.

Background: Initiation of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2) vaccinations aroused scepticism within the general-public about risks including stroke. Our aim was to explore temporal associations between vaccination and cerebrovascular events through an analysis of a prospective large-scale cohort of consecutive stroke and high-risk TIA (transitory ischaemic attack) patients.

Methods: We prospectively recruited a cohort of consecutive ischaemic stroke and high-risk TIA (ABCD2-Score ≥ 4) patients treated at the Innsbruck University Hospital (STROKE-CARD Registry Study, NCT04582825) from December 2020 until February 2022.

Long-term outcome of a pragmatic trial of multifaceted intervention (STROKE-CARD care) to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve quality-of-life after ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack: study protocol.

Background: Patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are at high risk of incident cardiovascular events and recurrent stroke. Despite compelling evidence about the efficacy of secondary prevention, a substantial gap exists between risk factor management in real life and that recommended by international guidelines. We conducted the STROKE-CARD trial (NCT02156778), a multifaceted pragmatic disease management program between 2014 and 2018 with follow-up until 2019.

Sex-differences in psychosocial sequelae after spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Short- to mid-term functional outcome in spontaneous cervical artery dissection is favorable, but the concomitant psychosocial impact is underreported. We aimed to determine these possible sequelae, with a special focus on sex differences, in our cohort of spontaneous cervical artery dissection subjects. During a standardized prospective in-house follow-up visit we, among other values, evaluated functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS]), psychosocial measures (return to work-, divorce rate) and health-related quality of life (WHO-QoL-BREF and SF-36-questionnaires).

Longer term patient management following stroke: A systematic review.

Background: Tremendous progress in acute stroke therapy has improved short-term outcome but part of this achievement may be lost in the long run. Concepts for a better long-term management of stroke survivors are needed to address their unmet needs and to reduce the burden of post-stroke complications, residual deficits, and recurrent vascular events.

Aims: This review summarizes current knowledge on post-hospital care and the scientific evidence supporting individual programs.

STROKE-CARD care to prevent cardiovascular events and improve quality of life after acute ischaemic stroke or TIA: A randomised clinical trial.

Background: Patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are at high risk of recurrent stroke and other cardiovascular diseases and commonly suffer from reduced quality of life. We aimed to determine whether the disease management programme STROKE-CARD can prevent cardiovascular diseases and improve quality of life in these patients.

Methods: In this pragmatic open-label two-centre randomised controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment, we randomly assigned patients with acute ischaemic stroke or TIA (ABCD score ≥3) in a 2:1 ratio to receive STROKE-CARD care or standard care.

[Linkage of Clinical and Claims Data in the Evaluation of Post-Stroke Care - SeDaStro: Experiences from the Tyrolian StrokeCard Program].

Aims And Objectives: Data linkage is of paramount importance in the evaluation of treatment regimens for chronic diseases where different health care sectors are involved. A comprehensive picture of long-term treatment effects and, in particular, the cost-effectiveness ratio of treatment approaches can only be drawn when data from various sources are merged and analyzed together.

Methodological Problems And Challenges: Regarding post-acute stroke care, the present study gives an example of an exact deterministic data linkage procedure including clinical patient records and claims data of TGKK, the main Tyrolean statutory health insurance fund.

The dimension of preventable stroke in a large representative patient cohort.

Objective: To analyze the frequency of inadequately treated risk factors in a large representative cohort of patients with acute ischemic stroke or TIA and to estimate the proportion of events potentially avertable by guideline-compliant preventive therapy compared to the status quo.

Methods: A total of 1,730 patients from the Poststroke Disease Management STROKE-CARD trial (NCT02156778) were recruited between 2014 and 2017. We focused on 8 risk conditions amenable to drug therapy and 3 lifestyle risk behaviors and assessed pre-event risk factor control in retrospect.

Pragmatic trial of multifaceted intervention (STROKE-CARD care) to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve quality-of-life after ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack -study protocol.

Background: Patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are at high risk of future cardiovascular events. Despite compelling evidence about the efficacy of secondary prevention, a substantial gap exists between risk factor management in real life and that recommended by international guidelines. Moreover, stroke is a leading cause of disability and morbidity which partly emerges from post-stroke complications.

ABCD3-I score and the risk of early or 3-month stroke recurrence in tissue- and time-based definitions of TIA and minor stroke.

Changing definition of TIA from time to a tissue basis questions the validity of the well-established ABCD3-I risk score for recurrent ischemic cerebrovascular events. We analyzed patients with ischemic stroke with mild neurological symptoms arriving < 24 h after symptom onset in a phase where it is unclear, if the event turns out to be a TIA or minor stroke, in the prospective multi-center Austrian Stroke Unit Registry. Patients were retrospectively categorized according to a time-based (symptom duration below/above 24 h) and tissue-based (without/with corresponding brain lesion on CT or MRI) definition of TIA or minor stroke.

Association Between Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 and Atrial Fibrillation.

Importance: Accumulating evidence links inflammation and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: To assess whether markers of systemic and atrial inflammation are associated with incident AF in the general population.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Bruneck Study is a prospective, population-based cohort study with a 20-year follow-up (n = 909).

Do Women With Atrial Fibrillation Experience More Severe Strokes? Results From the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry.

Background And Purpose: Ischemic strokes associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) are more severe than those of other cause. We aim to study potential sex effects in this context.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 74 425 adults with acute ischemic stroke from the Austrian Stroke Unit Registry were included between March 2003 and January 2016.

Thrombolysis and clinical outcome in patients with stroke after implementation of the Tyrol Stroke Pathway: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke remains underused worldwide. We aimed to assess whether our statewide comprehensive stroke management programme would improve thrombolysis use and clinical outcome in patients.

Methods: In 2008-09, we designed the Tyrol Stroke Pathway, which provided information campaigns for the public and standardised the entire treatment pathway from stroke onset to outpatient rehabilitation.