UK Carotid Cohort Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Long term risk of stroke in individuals suspected of having carotid artery disease
IRAS ID
202492
Contact name
Richard Bulbulia
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials & Research Governance, University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
12 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Objectives
Investigate the long-term stroke rates of individuals who are being investigated for carotid artery disease at UK vascular laboratories.
Compare the long-term stroke rates in people with a positive and negative carotid duplex scan.
Explore the temporal trends in stroke rates in UK people with carotid artery disease.
Assess the association of carotid artery diameter reduction with long-term stroke rates.
Assess the association of traditional and emerging cardiovascular risk factors with stroke events in people with carotid artery disease.
Investigate the association between carotid plaque characteristics on MRI with stroke events in people with carotid artery disease.
Investigate the association of carotid artery disease with impaired cognitive function and development of dementia.Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Approximately one fifth of ischaemic strokes are caused by carotid artery disease, a narrowing of the large arteries that carry blood from the heart to the brain. There is considerable disagreement around the best management of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis, in particular regarding carotid surgery. This can be explained, at least in part, by a lack of epidemiological data around the natural history of carotid artery disease, long term stroke rates, and factors that increase the risk of stroke in this population.
Methods
This study will involve prospective recruitment of patients being investigator for carotid artery disease at NHS vascular laboratories. Any adult with capacity who undergoes a carotid duplex scan will be considered eligible for inclusion in the study and may be provided with a study information package.
A small group of patients who opt-in will be invited to undergo an additional non-contrast MRI scan of their carotid arteries and brain for experimental analyses. This data will be analysed to identify putative radiological markers associated with future stroke.
A minimal follow-up approach will be employed whereby stroke events are tracked through electronic data linkage with central registries such as the NHS Hospital Episode Statistics, Office for National Statistics.REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0330
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion