Many ischemic stroke patients do not achieve goal blood pressure (BP < 140/90 mm Hg). To identify barriers to post-stroke hypertension management, we examined healthcare utilization and BP control in the year after index ischemic stroke admission. This retrospective cohort study included patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke The recurrent stroke rate did not differ among patients with uncontrolled (4.2%) compared with controlled BP (3.8%; P = .89). Few patients achieved goal BP in the year post-stroke. Visits to primary care were not timely. Underuse of specialty as well as ancillary services and provider perception of medication non-adherence were common. Future intervention studies seeking to improve post-stroke hypertension management should address these observed gaps in care.
| BACKGROUNDHypertension is considered one of the most robust and modifiable risk factors for first ischemic stroke and recurrent stroke.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Clinical inertia (CI) is defined as “recognition of the problem, but failure to act.” The effect of educational interventions in minimizing CI in CVD risk factor management was assessed. Educational sessions were conducted among 201 RTRs to inform them about their goals for blood pressure (BP), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Physicians were reminded about treatment goals using checklists. Pre‐intervention and post‐intervention CI was measured as “no action” or “appropriate action” by the physicians. Post‐intervention percentage of RTRs with “no clinical action” for BP, LDL‐C, and HbA1c control decreased from 10.8% to 3.8% (P=.02), 28.2% to 11.1% (P=.008), and 10.3% to 4.5% (P=.05), respectively, while those with “appropriate action” increased from 66.2% to 83.3% (P<.001), 68.7% to 79.4% (P=.008), and 85.1% to 93.2% (P=.03), respectively. Educational interventions and patient participation were shown to reduce CI.
Hypertension is a known risk factor for primary as well as recurrent stroke. Improving blood pressure (BP) control has been associated with decreased risk of recurrent stroke. Several factors have been associated with poor BP control among stroke patients such as non-compliance and clinical inertia. We examined the receipt of health care services by patients in the one-year period following discharge for ischemic stroke.
This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who were admitted for acute ischemic stroke at a Veterans Affairs hospital during year 2011 and who were discharged with a BP >140/90 mmHg. The following were reviewed: primary care visits; sub-specialty clinic visits; emergency department (ED) visits; hospitalizations; utilization of ancillary care (i.e., telehealth, pharmacy, nutrition services); medications upon discharge; adherence to medications and occurrence of recurrent stroke during the one-year post-discharge period.
The cohort included 124 patients with an average age of 66.4 years (± standard deviation of10.3); 123 were male; 62.9% were white; diabetes mellitus was present in 32.5%; and 13.0% had history of coronary artery disease. The average BP at the time of discharge from the index stroke hospitalization was 149.5/82.6 (±11.3/9.8) mmHg. Only 38.7% of patients had an average BP over the one year period of <140/90 mmHg. The average number of primary care visits during this period was 2.8 (±1.6). The overwhelming majority of patients had at least one primary care visit (N=119, 95.9%) however the median time from discharge to the first primary clinic visit was 32 days (IQR 59). Forty four percent of patients were seen as outpatient by neurology, 19.4% by cardiology, 9.7% by nephrology, 5.7% by nutrition, 23.4% by clinical pharmacy, and 9.7% by the telehealth service. BP monitors were issued to or being used by 39.5% patients. Non-adherence was documented in the medical record as an interfering issue in 25.8% of patients. More than two antihypertensive agents were prescribed at discharge in 50.8% patients. During the one-year post-discharge period 29.0% of patients were hospitalized at least once and 24.2% had at least one ED visit. Recurrent stroke occurred in 3.2% of patients. The stroke rate was 4.23% among patients with uncontrolled BP compared with 2.08% among patients with well-controlled BP (p=0.40).
This indicates that patients with elevated BP at the time of discharge from an ischemic stroke hospitalization remain with poorly controlled BP in the year post-discharge. Although patients appear to be receiving primary care services, these visits are not successfully achieving BP control. Relative underuse of certain resources for hypertension management such as ancillary services and home BP monitoring is observed.Future intervention studies seeking to improve the hypertension management of post-stroke patients should address these observed gaps in care.
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