The reality of antithrombotic therapy used to prevent ischemic stroke among elderly people

Ischemic stroke is a sudden brain damage that is caused by clogged blood vessels and it leads to disability. It can occur at any age, however, the risk is especially high among elderly people. Antithrombotic therapy can significantly reduce the risk of the ischemic stroke development, however, in reality elderly people receive it insufficiently. The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of antithrombotic treatment that is being given for elderly people in Latvia. The prospective study included 51 patient ≥ 80 years who were hospitalized with an acute ischemic stroke in the Riga East Clinical university hospital ‘Gaiļezers’. It was determined whether the patients have had a known atrial fibrillation before the hospitalization. Three months later a telephone interview was carried out in order to determine whether patients were receiving prescribed antithrombotic therapy. Before the hospitalization 21/51 (41%) patient had received prior antithrombotic therapy, 23/51 (45%) of them had not received antithrombotic therapy, but about 7/51 (14%) patients data were not available. Before the hospitalization there were 27/51 (53%) patients with a known atrial fibrillation, of whom 6/27 (22%) did not receive antithrombotic therapy, 16/27 (59%) received antiplatelet agents, and 5/27 (19%) - anticoagulants. At the time of discharge, 23/51 (45%) patients were advised to take antiplatelet agents (17/23 (74%) patients took them also after 3 months, 2/23 (9%) – did not take them, 4 (17%)– no data), 28 patients (55%) – anticoagulants (26/28 patients (93%) took them also after 3 months, but 2 patients (7%) took antiplatelet agents). In order to prevent ischemic stroke, anticoagulant therapy is taken insufficienty by the patients who have known atrial fibrillation. For patients with known atrial fibrillation often is recommended improper antithrombotic therapy. Most patients receive the recommended antithrombotic therapy for 3 months after discharge.