Background: Patients who have undergone reperfusion treatments, like all ischemic stroke patients, are at risk of recurrent ischemic strokes in the first 90 days. Current guidelines recommend single antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention at variable time points after the procedure. This study aims to survey healthcare professionals to assess practices and perspectives on using dual antiplatelet therapy in patients who have received reperfusion therapies.
Methods: We conducted a multinational cross-sectional web-based survey using Qualtrics involving neurologists and non-neurologist stroke physicians (including neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, and internal medicine physicians). Participants were asked about their current practices and presented with six structured case scenarios to determine their treatment preferences. In the case scenarios, we assessed their willingness to randomize to a clinical trial comparing single versus dual antiplatelets. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between demographic characteristics and willingness to randomize.
Results: 278 clinicians from 26 countries participated in the survey. The most common continent of practice was Asia (55.9%), the area of practice was Neurology 79.1%, the years of practice was 5-15 years (41.5%), and the level of stroke center was comprehensive stroke center (73.9%). Antiplatelet Choice: For a small infarct post-IVT and EVT, 69.8% preferred aspirin, and 17.6% chose a dual antiplatelet strategy with aspirin and clopidogrel. Loading of Antiplatelet: 43.5% indicated they would not administer a loading dose in cases even with small final infarctions. Timing of Antiplatelet Initiation: Preferences varied; 21.7% considered early initiation immediately post-EVT, and 37.2% considered 24 hours post-EVT. Willingness to Randomize: 77.7% were willing or would consider randomizing in a clinical trial with dual antiplatelet. On regression analyses, the willingness to randomize was influenced by years of practice and the local volume of reperfusion therapy.
Conclusions: Antiplatelet management for secondary stroke prevention following reperfusion therapy is variable. However, more than three-fourths of participants were willing to consider randomization to a clinical trial exploring the prevention of recurrent stroke after reperfusion therapy.
Keywords: Endovascular thrombectomy; Intravenous thrombolysis; Stroke prevention Survey..
The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.