Urgent treatment of strokes ‘prevents disability’

Urgent assessment and treatment of patients who have suffered a minor stroke can reduce the chances of disability, research claims.

Previous studies have shown early action can reduce the 90-day risk of recurrent stroke by about 80 per cent.

A report published in Lancet today said there are also positive effects on admissions to hospital, costs and disability.

Taking into account the fact the 90-day risk of fatal or disabling stoke was reduced by early intervention, researchers found the overall number of bed-days were reduced, lowering hospital costs.

The authors therefore claim urgent assessment and treatment of patients – who had had a transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke and were referred to a specialist outpatient clinic – reduced subsequent hospital bed-days, acute costs and six-month disability.

Further research is needed to assess the outcome, costs and long-term cost-effectiveness of early assessment and treatment, they conclude.

In response to the study, professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation said: “Everyone now recognises that a heart attack is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment, which is why fewer people are dying from heart attacks.”