CV markers of stroke

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Cardiovascular markers of ischaemic stroke risk: a registry of stroke patients, their associated risk factors and cardiovascular investigations

• IRAS ID

  222896

• Contact name

  Muzahir H Tayebjee

• Contact email

  muzahir.tayebjee@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 10 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Ischaemic stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and, following a first event, around a quarter of patients will go on to have a recurrent stroke. A fifth of ischaemic strokes are cardioembolic in origin, the cause of which is most frequently atrial fibrillation (AF). This arrhythmia may be paroxysmal and asymptomatic and as a result, can be difficult to detect at times. This is highlighted by the fact that 45% of all AF-related strokes occur in patients with previously undetected AF.
  When a patient presents with an ischaemic stroke, if the aetiology is not immediately apparent, they will often undergo cardiac investigations such as rhythm monitoring and echocardiography to determine potential causes. If an arrhythmia such as AF is identified, they will commonly be given anticoagulation in order to reduce their risk of future events. If no arrhythmia is found, they will be given anti-platelet therapy. However, a significant proportion of stroke patients will have AF which is not found during the cardiac monitoring period and will therefore not receive optimal medical therapy.

  We aim to review all patients admitted to Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke between 2014-2015. We will record their co-existing medical conditions and record the cardiac investigations that were performed to create a detailed stroke database. With this data, we aim to determine the diagnostic yield of cardiac monitoring in the diagnosis of atrial arrhythmia, look for any cardiac markers which may predict recurrent events and determine whether current risk scores such as CHA2DS2VASc could be used to identify those patients in sinus rhythm who go on to develop an ischaemic stroke.

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/YH/0078

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Mar 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion