Risk factors and prognosis of young stroke. The FUTURE study: A prospective cohort study. Study rationale and protocol

Contains fulltext : 98322.pdf (postprint version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Young stroke can have devastating consequences with respect to quality of life, the ability to work, plan or run a family, and participate in social life. Better insight into risk factors and the long-term prognosis is extremely important, especially in young stroke patients with a life expectancy of decades. To date, detailed information on risk factors and the long-term prognosis in young stroke patients, and more specific risk of mortality or recurrent vascular events, remains scarce. METHODS/DESIGN: The FUTURE study is a prospective cohort study on risk factors and prognosis of young ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among 1006 patients, aged 18-50 years, included in our study database between 1-1-1980 and 1-11-2010. Follow-up visits at our research centre take place from the end of 2009 until the end of 2011. Control subjects will be recruited among the patients' spouses, relatives or social environment. Information on mortality and incident vascular events will be retrieved via structured questionnaires. In addition, participants are invited to the research centre to undergo an extensive sub study including MRI. DISCUSSION: The FUTURE study has the potential to make an important contribution to increase the knowledge on risk factors and long-term prognosis in young stroke patients. Our study differs from previous studies by having a maximal follow-up of more than 30 years, including not only TIA and ischemic stroke but also hemorrhagic stroke, the addition of healthy controls and prospectively collect data during an extensive follow-up visit. Completion of the FUTURE study may provide better information for treating physicians and patients with respect to the prognosis of young stroke.8 p

Long-term cognitive impairment after first-ever ischemic stroke in young adults: a neuroimaging study

Contains fulltext : 162529.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Radboud University, 24 januari 2017Promotores : Leeuw, H.F. de, Kessels, R.P.C

Ischaemic stroke in young adults: risk factors and long-term consequences

Item does not contain fulltextContrary to trends in most other diseases, the average age of ischaemic stroke onset is decreasing, owing to a rise in the incidence of stroke among 'young' individuals (under 50 years of age). This Review provides a critical overview of the risk factors and aetiology of young ischaemic stroke and addresses its long-term prognosis, including cardiovascular risk, functional outcome and psychosocial consequences. We highlight the diminishing role of 'rare' risk factors in the pathophysiology of young stroke in light of the rising prevalence of 'traditional' vascular risk factors in younger age groups. Long-term prognosis is of particular interest to young patients, because of their long life expectancy and major responsibilities during a demanding phase of life. The prognosis of young stroke is not as favourable as previously thought, with respect either to mortality or cardiovascular disease or to psychosocial consequences. Therefore, secondary stroke prevention is probably a life-long endeavour in most young stroke survivors. Due to under-representation of young patients in past trials, new randomized trials focusing on this age group are needed to confirm the benefits of long-term secondary preventive medication. The high prevalence of poor functional outcome and psychosocial problems warrants further study to optimize treatment and rehabilitation for these young patients

Persistent cognitive impairment after transient ischemic attack

Contains fulltext : 136503.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access)BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: By definition, the symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) subside completely within 24 hours. Imaging studies show signs of persistent ischemic tissue damage in a substantial amount of patients with TIA. Cerebral infarction can cause permanent cognitive impairment. Whether permanent cognitive impairment occurs after TIA is unclear, as is its profile. METHODS: Patients with TIA aged 45 to 65 years without prior stroke or dementia underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing within 3 months. Z scores per cognitive domain were obtained, based on the mean of a control group within the same age range. Cognitive impairment was defined as a domain z score /=1 cognitive domain. Presence of silent brain infarcts was related to worse executive functioning but did not explain the whole relationship between TIA and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: More than a third of patients with TIA have impairment of >/=1 cognitive domain within 3 months after their TIA. The affected domains fit in the vascular cognitive impairment profile.5 p

Effect of formal education on vascular cognitive impairment after stroke: A meta-analysis and study in young-stroke patients

Objectives: The extent of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) after stroke varies greatly across individuals, even when the same amount of brain damage is present. Education level is a potentially protective factor explaining these differences, but results on its effects on VCI are inconclusive. Methods: First, we performed a meta-analysis on formal education and VCI, identifying 21 studies (N=7770). Second, we examined the effect of formal education on VCI in young-stroke patients who were cognitively assessed on average 11.0 (SD=8.2) years post-stroke (the FUTURE study cohort). The total sample consisted of 277 young-stroke patients with a mean age at follow-up 50.9 (SD=10.3). Age and education-adjusted expected scores were computed using 146 matched stroke-free controls. Results: The meta-analysis showed an overall effect size (z') of 0.25 (95% confidence interval [0.18-0.31]), indicating that formal education level had a small to medium effect on VCI. Analyses of the FUTURE data showed that the effect of education on post-stroke executive dysfunction was mediated by age (beta age -0.015; p<.05). Below-average performance in the attention domain was more frequent for low-education patients (x2(2)=9.8; p<.05). Conclusions: While education level was found to be related to post-stroke VCI in previous research, the effects were small. Further analysis in a large stroke cohort showed that these education effects were fully mediated by age, even in relatively young stroke patients. Education level in and of itself does not appear to be a valid indicator of cognitive reserve. Multi-indicator methods may be more valid, but have not been studied in relation to VCI. (JINS, 2017, 22, 1–16

Baseline white matter microstructural integrity is not related to cognitive decline after 5 years: The RUN DMC study

Contains fulltext : 151968.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Publisher: Abstract available from the publisher. Dut7 p

Long-term increased risk of unemployment after young stroke: A long-term follow-up study

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, excess risk, and risk factors of unemployment in patients after a TIA, ischemic stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage at ages 18 through 50 years, compared with nationwide controls. METHODS: We performed a hospital-based cohort study among 694 patients, aged 18-50 years, with a first-ever TIA, ischemic stroke, or intracerebral hemorrhage. After a mean follow-up duration of 8.1 (SD 7.7) years, we used logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for being unemployed as a young stroke patient, compared with the Dutch population of vocational age (n = 7,803,000), with subsequent assessment of risk factors of unemployment. RESULTS: Young stroke patients had a higher risk of being unemployed than their peers in the Dutch population: women OR 2.3 (1.8-2.9), men OR 3.2 (2.5-4.0). A higher NIH Stroke Scale score at admission (OR 1.1 [95% CI 1.0-1.1]) and a longer follow-up duration (middle tertile OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.7-4.7], upper tertile OR 3.4 [95% CI 1.9-6.1]) were associated with a higher risk of being unemployed. CONCLUSION: Young stroke patients had a 2-3 times higher risk of unemployment after 8 years of follow-up. Return-to-work programs should be developed, adjusted, and evaluated in order to diminish the negative effects that unemployment can have on patients' life satisfaction and to limit the socioeconomic consequences

Post-stroke fatigue and its association with poor functional outcome after stroke in young adults

Item does not contain fulltextINTRODUCTION: Post-stroke fatigue negatively influences short-term functional outcome in older stroke survivors. In young adults, in the midst of their active working and family life, this influence may even be more pronounced. However, there are only few studies on this topic in young patients with stroke. Therefore, we investigated the long-term prevalence of post-stroke fatigue in patients with a young transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or ischaemic stroke and its association with functional outcome. METHODS: This study is part of a large cohort study among 511 stroke survivors with a first-ever TIA or ischaemic stroke, aged 18-50 years. After a mean follow-up of 9.8 (SD 8.4) years, we assessed the presence of fatigue with the fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength questionnaire and functional outcome. Prevalence of fatigue between young patients with stroke and 147 stroke-free sex-matched and age-matched controls was compared. OR's for poor functional outcome on modified Rankin Score (mRS>2) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL<8) and cognitive performance were calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the young patients with stroke, 41% experienced symptoms of fatigue, versus 18.4% in controls (p 0.0005). Fatigue was associated with a poor functional outcome, as assessed by the mRS (OR 4.0 (95% CI 1.6 to 9.6), IADL (OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.1 to 4.6), and impairment in speed of information processing (OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue was very common in young stroke survivors and was associated with a poor functional outcome, even after almost a decade of follow-up.7 p

Shades of Use : The Dynamics of Interaction Design for Sociable Use

Computers are used in sociable situations, for example during customer meetings. This is seldom recognized in design, which means that computers often become a hindrance in the meeting. Based on empirical studies and socio-cultural theory, this thesis provides perspectives on sociable use and identifies appropriate units of analysis that serve as critical tools for understanding and solving interaction design problems. Three sociable situations have been studied: customer meetings, design studios and domestic environments. In total, 49 informants were met with during 41 observation and interview sessions and 17 workshops; in addition, three multimedia platforms were also designed. The empirical results show that people need to perform individual actions while participating in joint action, in a spontaneous fashion and in consideration of each other. The consequence for design is that people must be able to use computers in different manners to control who has what information. Based on the empirical results, five design patterns were developed to guide interaction design for sociable use. The thesis demonstrates that field studies can be used to identify desirable use qualities that in turn can be used as design objectives and forces in design patterns. Re-considering instrumental, communicational, aesthetical, constructional and ethical aspects can furthermore enrich the understanding of identified use qualities. Witha foundation in the field studies, it is argued that the deliberation of ynamic characters and use qualities is an essential component of interaction design. Designers of interaction are required to work on three levels: the user interface, the mediating artefact and the activity of use. It is concluded that doing interaction design is to provide users with perspectives, resources and constraints on their space for actions; the complete design is not finalized until the users engage in action. This is where the fine distinctions and, what I call 'shades of use' appear