STROKE Anne Kinnear Lead Pharmacist NHS Lothian
Aim To update pharmacists on Stroke: the disease and its management and explore ways to implement pharmaceutical care for this patient group as part of normal working practice.
Objectives Describe the disease, identify risk factors and signs and symptoms associated with Stroke. Define the current therapeutic management of acute Stroke and secondary prevention measures. Identify pharmaceutical care issues and respond to symptoms in patient scenarios and identify appropriate management solutions. Explore how to implement the principles of a pharmaceutical care needs assessment tool in practice.
Stroke Third commonest cause of death in Scotland 15,000 stroke patients in Scotland annually One of leading causes of disability in adults
Time is Brain
Stroke 2 million neurones per minute
How do you know if someone is having a stroke?
What is FAST? F acial weakness - can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped? A rm weakness - can the person raise both arms? S peech problems - can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? T est all 3
Stroke WHO Definition A neurological deficit (usually loss of function) caused by reduction in blood supply to the brain. This is usually because a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This affects the supply of oxygen and nutrients, causing damage to the brain tissue.
Chest Heart and Stroke Definition A stroke is a brain attack. It happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel.
Stroke Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) a stroke which resolves within 24 hours (10% risk of stroke within 7 days) Minor Stroke a stroke resulting in persisting symptoms but not causing significant disability Major Stroke a stroke resulting in persistent deficit
Diagnosis Computed Tomography scan (CT scan) `Immediate`
Diagnosis stroke type STROKE Cerebral infarct CT scan Cerebral haemorrhage
Stroke
Atherosclerotic thrombosis
Stroke 1 - Anterior cerebral artery 2 - Anterior communicating artery 3 - Internal carotid artery 4 - Posterior communicating artery 5 - Middle cerebral artery 6 - Posterior cerebral artery 7 - Superior cerebellar artery 8 - Basilar artery 9 - Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
Cerebrum intellect, speech, emotion, sensory, movement Cerebellum balance, co-ordination Brain stem respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, wakefulness Cerebrum - left hemisphere speech and language
Risk factors Risk Factors For Stroke: Treatable Major Diabetes Hypertension Smoking Lifestyle Diet Cholesterol Heart disease, esp. atrial fibrillation Transient ischaemic attacks Less Well Documented Excessive alcohol intake / drug abuse Acute infection
Risk factors Risk Factors for Stroke That Cannot Be Changed Increased age Being male Race (e.g., African- Americans) Family history of stroke
Evidence Base for Treatment ACTIVE PROGRESS CHARISMA SPARCL ESPRIT MATCH PROFESS RE-LY
Acute Secondary Prevention
Acute treatment Thrombolysis Antiplatelets Blood pressure Hydration Oxygen Blood glucose Temperature
Thrombolysis Lyses clot by digesting fibrinogen Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tpa - Alteplase) 0.9mg/kg after test dose Within 4.5 hours (6hrs if IST-3 clinical trial) Reduces death and disability at 90 days 2% incidence of symptomatic haemorrhage at 24 hrs 8% incidence of symptomatic haemorrhage at 7 days
Antiplatelets Aspirin 300mg within 48 hours continued for 14 days or until discharge from hospital reduces 14 day mortality and morbidity No evidence for: Anticoagulants Combinations of antiplatelets or antiplatelets with anticoagulants Neuroprotectants
Blood pressure - not actively managed in acute phase Hydration IV Sodium Chloride 0.9% is preferred to glucose 5% Blood glucose - treat if blood glucose is >11mmol/L Oxygen - supplemental Oxygen if saturation <95% Temperature prescribe antipyretics
Secondary Prevention Treatment
Antiplatelets
Antiplatelets Evidence Cochrane Reviews Dipyridamole MR Clopidogrel vs Aspirin Randomised Clinical Trials MATCH Aspirin + Clopidogrel vs Clopidogrel CHARISMA Aspirin + Clopidogrel vs Aspirin ESPRIT Aspirin + Dipyridamole MR vs either alone PROFESS Aspirin + Dipyridamole MR vs Clopidogrel
Antiplatelets Aspirin and Dipyridamole MR in combination significantly reduces risk of vascular events compared to aspirin alone (approx 25% risk reduction) without an increase in bleeding The combination of Aspirin and Clopidogrel is no more effective than either alone is associated with an increase in moderate/life threatening bleeding only 25% patients in studies had a history of previous stroke used in acute coronary syndrome (NSTEMI) or carotid stenosis
Antiplatelets The combination of Aspirin and Dipyridamole MR vs Clopidogrel showed no difference in efficacy
Antiplatelets Recommendations Clopidogrel 75mg daily OR Aspirin 75mg daily and Dipyridamole 200mg MR twice daily should be prescribed after ischaemic stroke for secondary prevention of vascular events OR aspirin alone if dipyridamole or clopidogrel intolerance (headache 26% withdrawal ESPRIT trial) - or if carotid stenosis 70% or unstable angina The combination of aspirin and clopidogrel is not recommended for prevention of ischaemic stroke or TIA
Statins Evidence 2 x Systematic reviews (170000 pts) Randomised Clinical Trial SPARCL (4700 pts) Statins significantly reduce relative risk of ischaemic stroke by 21% but stroke death is not reduced Effect occurs without an increase in haemorrhagic stroke Statins reduce coronary events and all cause mortality Effect occurs irrespective of baseline cholesterol level (proportional to LDL lowering)
Statins Recommendations A statin should be prescribed to patients who have had an ischaemic stroke irrespective of cholesterol level Which statin? Simvastatin 40mg high risk coronary event Atorvastatin 80mg TIA / ischaemic stroke Should not be used in patients with a prior history of intracerebral haemorrhage
Anticoagulants Non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke Evidence Systematic review Anticoagulant vs antiplatelet Randomised clinical trial ESPRIT Anticoagulants no more effective than aspirin No difference in all cause mortality between antiplatelets and low or medium anticoagulation Higher mortality and major bleeding at intensive anticoagulation Recommendation Anticoagulation not recommended
Anticoagulants Atrial fibrillation and ischaemic stroke Evidence ROCKET-AF trial RE-LY trial Warfarin MORE effective for prevention of all vascular events and recurrent stroke No significant increase in intracranial bleed Not within 2 weeks Recommendation Warfarin should be offered with target INR of 2.0-3.0 OR Dabigatran or Rivaroxaban (oral direct thrombin inhibitors) may become alternatives to warfarin
Anticoagulants Atrial fibrillation and ischaemic stroke Evidence RE LY trial (NEJM 2009) Warfarin versus Dabigatran in AF with primary outcome of stroke Recommendation Equal efficacy for warfarin and dabigatran with no worse safety profile for the dabigatran
Antihypertensives Evidence Well established link between BP reduction and stroke primary prevention Systematic review (7 trials) Randomised Clinical Trial - PROGRESS Perindopril/Indapamide Lowering BP reduced recurrent stroke and major vascular events No effect on vascular or all cause mortality Reduction in stroke related to difference in systolic BP between groups
Antihypertensives Recommendation BP should be assessed in all patients and therapy with an ACE inhibitor and thiazide diuretic should be considered regardless of BP Target blood pressure is <140/85 diabetics <130/80 mmhg
Summary Secondary Prevention of Ischaemic Stroke Aspirin 75mg + Dipyridamole 200mg twice daily (or Clopidogrel 75mg if ACS) Simvastatin 40mg / Atorvastatin 80mg Thiazide diuretic ACE inhibitor If in atrial fibrillation, warfarin/rivaroxaban/dabigatran should replace antiplatelets
Pharmacist Role Public health, education and information Pharmaceutical care Research Multidisciplinary team membership
Public Health, education and information Awareness and promotion of: Public Health campaigns CHSS campaigns and resources Risk factors action to take Stroke Identification FAST test Lifestyle advice smoking, weight loss/diet, vitamins
Pharmacist Role Public health, education and information Pharmaceutical care Research Multidisciplinary team membership
Pharmaceutical Care Transfer of patient information primary/secondary care interface - continuity of care - reduction of medication errors/discrepancies Identification and resolution of pharmaceutical care issues - level and type of resultant disability
Modified Rankin Score (mrs) Disability Score Score Symptoms 0 No symptoms 1 No significant disabling symptoms 2 Slight disability 3 Moderate disability 4 Moderate/severe disability 5 Severe disability 6 Dead
Disability Dysphasia Aphasia Dysphagia Aphagia Hemiparesis Hemiplegic Hemianopia Speech Swallow Weakness Paralysis Visual difficulties
Pharmaceutical Care Issues Speech Comprehension Communication/counselling carers Swallow Ability to take medicines aspiration risk and liquids formulations bioavailability eg phenytoin NG and PEG tube feeding
Stroke Weakness or paralysis Ability to operate devices inhalers, insulin Ability to open containers Visual problems Ability to read instructions labels, leaflets, charts
Pharmacist Role Public health, education and information Pharmaceutical care Research Multidisciplinary team membership
Research Practice development project MSc Strathclyde University Standardised pharmaceutical care plan validation Validation of care issues for transfer needs assessment tool Pharmacist Research Fellow Design and validate transfer document for stroke
Research Audit of prescribing adherence to stroke guidelines and design and evaluation of a pharmaceutical care model Prospective evaluation of prescribing in acute stroke unit patients against guidelines and development of a pharmaceutical care plan Retrospective evaluation of prescribing in the same patients following discharge to primary care and design of documentation to facilitate information transfer between secondary and primary care
Research Primary Care - Results adherence 75% (hospital 79% 94%) lower for quality indicators not included in GMS contract lower for communication criteria Primary Care - Conclusions Improvement areas for prescribing use of warfarin in atrial fibrillation achievement of clinical target blood pressure and glycaemic control to audit and clinical standards
Pharmacist Role Public health, education and information Pharmaceutical care Research Multidisciplinary team membership
Multidisciplinary team membership SIGN Scottish Intercollegiate Network Managed Clinical Network for Stroke (MCN) National Advisory Group for Stroke Stroke Unit Multidisciplinary Team
Stroke Key Messages Time is brain Think FAST Brain attack dial 999
Useful Contacts