According to the Irish Heart Foundation, approximately 8000 people a year in Ireland are hospitalized due to stroke. Furthermore, 1700 people in Ireland die from stroke each year.The type of stroke we are interested in for this study is stroke caused by a blood clot. Risk factors for stroke and TIA include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, history of mini-strokes (called transient ischaemic attacks or TIAs), and high cholesterol levels. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can cause blood clots in the heart leading to stroke. Stroke or TIA survivors can be put on medications (blood thinners, cholesterol, and blood pressure) to reduce the likelihood of a future stroke or TIA by controlling the above risk factors. In this study, we will look at the medications that Irish stroke/TIA survivors aged 50-69 years take to help prevent them from having another stroke or TIA. We will compare the medications they are taking to international guidelines, to see if these adults are prescribed the recommended medications. We will also investigate if their current blood pressure and cholesterol medications keep their blood pressure and cholesterol under control.
The lived experience of stroke will be present throughout the study. A stroke survivor, who is taking the medications we are focusing on, was involved in reviewing this summary. He will be involved in shaping the study throughout and will have a role in interpreting and distributing the results of the study.
