Prevention After Stroke - a Nurse-led Physician-supervised Model

Prevention After Stroke - a Nurse-led Physician-Supervised Model. A Feasibility Study

The study evaluates the effect of early follow up in a preventive clinic with stepwise treatment of high blood pressure and lowering blood cholesterol. Half the participants were randomized to the preventive clinic group and the other half to control group with the usual treatment: one visit to the outpatient clinic three months after discharge with a diagnosis of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for recurrent stroke. Several studies have shown that less than 40% of stroke survivors are treated to target one year after stroke The investigator performed a feasibility study to test a model of treating this important risk factor in a hospital setting The investigator used a stepwise escalation of treatment of both blood pressure and blood cholesterol to individual targets according to patients' diagnosis of stroke, comorbidity and age

Inclusion Criteria: Patients diagnosed with a stroke during stay in the stroke unit of Herlev Hospital

Exclusion Criteria: Severe stroke giving a modified Rankin Scale score >4, severe cognitive deficits or dementia, discharge to a nursing home