Table 2.
Clinical characteristics and distribution of patients according to the recommended treatment, by period of discharge.
| Clinical characteristics | 2000 | 2004 | ||
| N | (%) | N | (%) | |
| Patients | 313 | (100.0) | 388 | (100.0) |
| Males | 159 | (50.8) | 193 | (49.7) |
| < 70 years | 65 | (20.8) | 71 | (18.3) |
| 70–79 years | 135 | (43.1) | 163 | (42.0) |
| ≥ 80 years | 113 | (36.1) | 154 | (39.7) |
| Hypertension | 232 | (74.1) | 326 | (84.0) |
| Previous stroke/TIA | 100 | (31.9) | 95 | (24.5) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 77 | (24.6) | 91 | (23.4) |
| Heart failure | 146 | (46.6) | 209 | (53.9) |
| Coronary heart disease | 96 | (30.7) | 114 | (29.4) |
| Recommended treatment: | N | (%) | N | (%) |
| OAT strongly recommended*: | 106 | (33.9) | 105 | (27.1) |
| ▪ Very high risk of stroke | 62 | (19.9) | 45 | (11.6) |
| ▪ High risk of stroke, age < 75 | 44 | (14.0) | 60 | (15.5) |
| OAT or ASA recommended†: | 101 | (32.3) | 124 | (32.0) |
| ▪ High risk of stroke, age ≥ 75 | 67 | (21.4) | 94 | (24.2) |
| ▪ Moderate risk of stroke | 34 | (10.9) | 30 | (7.7) |
| Uncertain‡ | 96 | (30.7) | 146 | (37.6) |
| ▪ Very high risk of stroke | 58 | (18.5) | 96 | (24.7) |
| ▪ High risk of stroke | 38 | (12.1) | 50 | (12.9) |
| OAT not recommended§ | 10 | (3.2) | 13 | (3.3) |
*Patients without contraindications to OAT and a favourable balance for AT, for whom OAT is the preferred choice. †Patients without contraindications to OAT and a favourable balance for AT, but the choice between OAT or ASA should be individualised. ‡Patients with contraindications to OAT and high or very high risk of stroke: any decision about the use of OAT, ASA or no AT should be individualised, balancing the benefits with the risks due to the contraindications. §Patients with contraindications to OAT and low-moderate risk of stroke. OAT, oral anticoagulant therapy; AT, antithrombotic therapy; ASA, acetylsalicylic acid.