PRECIOUS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PREvention of Complications to Improve Outcome in elderly patients with acute Stroke. A randomised, open, phase III, clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment.
IRAS ID
202282
Contact name
Malcolm Macleod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Medical Center Utrecht
Eudract number
2015-003179-32
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN82217627
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
PRECIOUS: PREvention of Complications to Improve OUtcome in elderly patients with acute Stroke. A randomised, open, phase III, clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment.
Every year, 1.3 million Europeans have a first stroke. One fifth to one third of stroke patients die in the first month after stroke, and one third remain dependent on the help of others. The annual costs for stroke care in Europe have been estimated at €64.1 billion. Stroke incidence increases almost exponentially with age, and the personal, societal, and economic burden of stroke is therefore largely driven by its frequent occurrence in the elderly. Elderly patients are at the
highest risk of complications after stroke, such as infections and fever. These complications are strongly and independently associated with a higher risk of death or dependency. The risk of developing these complications can be reduced by very simple, safe, and cheap measures, such as metoclopramide for the management of dysphagia, antibiotics for the prevention of infections, and paracetamol for the prevention of fever, but it is uncertain whether these measures also improve functional outcome.REC name
Scotland A REC
REC reference
16/SS/0070
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion