Scientists underline importance of secondary treatment after stroke

Researchers have studied why some patients do not adhere to their treatment programme following a stroke.

The study, published in journal Neurology, found that while the majority of participants were compliant in taking their medications, specific vulnerabilities could explain why some patients stop medications.

Lead author Cheryl D Bushnell said: "We found that there's a large opening for us to focus efforts towards even better compliance. Specifically, we as providers need to continue educating patients over the long term and not just the first time a medication is started."

She emphasised the importance of taking secondary prevention medications for preventing another stroke, as although risk is highest within the first three months after the event, it still stands at around eight per cent in the first year, and five per cent per year after that.

This follows news that the number of strokes experienced by young people in the US is increasing, according to a study published in the Annals of Neurology.

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