Susan Kopunek

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Poster 23

Category: Pre-Doctoral: Social/Behavioral/Clinical

WHAT RESEARCH SCREENING REVEALS ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN SURVIVORS OF STROKE

Kopunek SP¹, Michael KM^1,2, Shaughnessy M^1,2, Resnick B², Whitall J⁴, Nahm E-S2, Sorkin JD^1,3, Goldberg AP^1,3, Macko RF⁵.

¹Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Medicine; ²University of Maryland School of Nursing; ³Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Geriatrics Research, Education and Clinical Center; ⁴Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine; ⁵Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Neurology Section, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Stroke survivors are at significant risk for recurrent stroke and cardiovascular disease. Inadequately managed modifiable risk factors increase the threat of repeat stroke, development of new co-morbidities, and double the risk of premature mortality. The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of 364 community-dwelling men and women with chronic stroke who sought enrollment in exercise rehabilitation research studies. Each participant's risk profile was evaluated from data obtained during a medical history and physical examination and from laboratory analysis of a fasted blood sample. Current practice guidelines were used to define risk categories. We found that 99% of participants had at least one sub-optimally controlled risk factor. Ninety-one percent had two or more concurrent risk factors inadequately treated. Eighty percent of the participants had pre-hypertension or hypertension, 67% were overweight or obese, 60% had sub-optimal LDL, 45% had impaired fasting glucose, 34% had low HDL, and 14% were current smokers, while reportedly receiving routine medical care. Our findings confirm that stroke survivors remain at high risk for repeat stroke and cardiovascular event, and systematic assessment of this vulnerable population is imperative at every health care encounter including contacts for research evaluation.