Abstract

AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ASPIRIN ON PREVENTION OF EARLY RECURRENT STROKE AFTER TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK OR MINI STROKE

Jasmine Sebastian*, Priya Elsabath Varghese*, Sabitha Babu*, Jeenu Joseph, Sheethal S. and Santhosh M. Mathews

ABSTRACT

Stroke is a devastating disease-causing significant mortality and disability. Since the bulk of ischemic stroke is attributed to atherothrombosis, secondary prevention with antiplatelet agents is done to prevent the recurrence. Our study assessed the safety and effectiveness of aspirin in preventing early recurrent stroke after TIA or ministroke. A prospective and retrospective observational study was conducted in 72 patients who are diagnosed with TIA and they were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The patients are followed up to assess the recurrence of stroke. Out of 72 patients only 10 patients had stroke after TIA. Only one patient had recurrent stroke within 6 months period due to discontinuation of aspirin therapy. Aspirin was found to be safe and effective in preventing recurrent stroke after TIA or ministroke. Poor adherence to aspirin therapy was one of the major causes of recurrence. Recurrent stroke events can be prevented to an extent by increasing the adherence of patients to aspirin therapy by patient counselling.

Keywords: Stroke; TIA; Aspirin; Recurrence; Safety; Effectiveness.