Treatment with several therapeutic classes of medication is recommended for secondary prevention of stroke. We analysed the associations between the number of classes of prevention medications supplied within 90 days post-discharge for ischemic stroke (IS)/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and survival.
Retrospective cohort study of adults with first-ever IS/TIA (2010-2014) from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry individually linked with data from national pharmaceutical and Medicare claims. Exposure was the number of classes of recommended medications, i.e. blood pressure-lowering, antithrombotic or lipid-lowering agents, supplied to patients within 90 days post-discharge for IS/TIA. The longitudinal association between the number of classes of medications and survival was evaluated with Cox proportional hazards regression models using the landmark approach. A landmark date of 90 days post-hospital discharge was used to separate exposure and outcome periods and only patients who survived until this date were included.
Of 8,429 patients (43% female, median age 74 years, 80% IS), 607 (7%) died in the year following 90 days post-discharge. Overall, 56% of patients were supplied all three classes of medications, 28% two classes of medications, 11% one class of medications, and 5% no class of medications. Compared to patients supplied all three medication classes, adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality ranged from 1.43 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.72) in those supplied two medication classes to 2.04 (CI: 1.44-2.88) in those supplied with no medication class.
Treatment with all three classes of guideline-recommended medications within 90 days post-discharge was associated with better survival. Ongoing efforts are required to ensure optimal pharmacological intervention for secondary prevention of stroke.
The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.
Treatment with Multiple Therapeutic Classes of Medication is Associated with Survival after Stroke.
