Arterial Stiffness and Ischaemic Stroke in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility of a cohort study on Arterial Stiffness and Ischaemic Stroke in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (ASIST-DM)
IRAS ID
354967
Contact name
Chakravarthi Rajkumar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The ASIST-DM study focuses on people who have had an ischaemic stroke (a type of stroke caused by a blood clot within a blood vessel in the brain). Strokes can cause long-term disability, with many survivors experiencing difficulties in movement, thinking, and daily activities. The impact of stroke can be even more severe in people with type 2 diabetes, who tend to have a higher risk of stroke and often face a slower recovery. Some of the factors that influence this are still not completely understood. One possible reason is arterial stiffness, a condition where blood vessels lose their flexibility, making it harder for blood to flow efficiently to the brain. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a study to explore the relationship between arterial stiffness and recovery after ischaemic strokes.
The study will follow two groups of stroke patients: those with Type 2 diabetes and those without diabetes. The goal is to compare their arterial stiffness and the association this has with recovery from stroke, to help to better understand how diabetes affects stroke outcomes.
Researchers will monitor patients for up to 24 months after their stroke. During the hospital admission measurements of arterial stiffness and blood pressure will be taken. The researchers will then collect information about participant’s health, recovery, and any complications through questionnaires at 90 days following the stroke onset and checks of patient records at 12 months and 24 months. The study will take place in University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, with participants being recruited over a 12-month period.
By comparing these two groups, the study aims to identify differences in recovery and long-term health effects. Understanding this link could lead to better strategies for identifying stroke patients who may be at risk of a worse recovery, allowing for more tailored treatments and rehabilitation plans.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
25/WA/0341
Date of REC Opinion
24 Nov 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion