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Karger_ESC London_2013

22. European Stroke Conference 746 © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel Scientific Programme 758 Stroke prevention Withdrawn! 759 Stroke prevention IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF STROKE PATIENTS WITH THE NEW ANTICOAGULANTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL PROSPECTIVE STUDY P. Martinez-Sanchez1, B. Fuentes2, G. Ruiz-Ares3, J. Fernandez-Travieso4, E. Diez-Tejedor5 Department of Neurology and Stroke Center. IdiPAZ Health Research Institute. La Paz Uni-versity Hospital. Autónoma of Madrid University, Madrid, SPAIN1, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center. IdiPAZ Health Research Institute. La Paz University Hospital. Autónoma of Madrid University, Madrid, SPAIN2, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center. IdiPAZ Health Research Institute. La Paz University Hospital. Autónoma of Madrid University, Madrid, SPAIN3, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center. IdiPAZ Health Research Institute. La Paz University Hospital. Autónoma of Madrid University, Madrid, SPAIN4, Department of Neurology and Stroke Center. IdiPAZ Health Research Institute. La Paz University Hospital. Autónoma of Madrid Univer-sity, Madrid, SPAIN5 BACKGROUND: anti-vitamin K anticoagulants require frequent monitoring that interferes with quality of life. Our objective was to analyze the impact on the quality of life of the novel anticoagu-lants (NOAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke. METHODS: Prospective observational study of ischemic stroke patients with AF. All were initially under acenocumarol which was changed by a NOAC (dabigatran / rivaroxaban) following the cur-rent stroke guidelines. The perceived quality of life was assessed in two occasions: during treatment with acenocoumarol and after change it to the NOAC, using two questionnaires: 1) A specific scale for level of comfort and satisfaction with anticoagulant therapy, “The perception of Anti-Coagulant Treatment Questionnaire (PACT -Q); and 2) a generic questionnaire, “The Medical Outcomes Study SF-36” (SF36). We excluded patients with modified Rankin scale> 3, aphasia or inability to com-plete the questionnaires. RESULTS: 18 patients included, mean age 77.5 years, 33% male. Median time to from stroke to the first questionnaire: 172 days and up to the second: 251 days (P NS). The PACT-Q showed better scores in the comfort item (93 vs. 66.1) and satisfaction (87.1 vs. 70) with NOAC compared with acenocoumarol (P <0.05). The SF-36 also showed better physical function score (72.5 vs. 50), phys-ical role (75 vs. 50), vitality (70.8 vs. 60) and general health (54.1 vs. 50) with the NOAC compared with acenocumarol (P <0.05) CONCLUSIONS: The perceived quality of life of stroke patients is better with NOAC than with an-ti- vitamin K anticoagulants. This factor should be taking in consideration when prescribing antico-agulant therapy.


Karger_ESC London_2013
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