Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke

Background: A recent position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke proposed an integrated ABCstroke pathway to optimise post-stroke management. We evaluated the impact of ABCstroke pathway adherence on post-stroke cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Patients with first-ever is...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Christopher T. W. Tsang, Sylvia E. Choi, Tommaso Bucci, Jia-Yi Huang, Qing-Wen Ren, Mei-Zhen Wu, Wen-Li Gu, Ran Guo, Jing-Nan Zhang, Anthony O. T. Ma, Steven H. M. Lam, Yap-Hang Chan, Kui-Kai Lau, Hung-Fat Tse, Azmil H. Abdul-Rahim, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Kai-Hang Yiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2025-05-01
Series:Global Heart
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1430
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850163455436259328
author Christopher T. W. Tsang
Sylvia E. Choi
Tommaso Bucci
Jia-Yi Huang
Qing-Wen Ren
Mei-Zhen Wu
Wen-Li Gu
Ran Guo
Jing-Nan Zhang
Anthony O. T. Ma
Steven H. M. Lam
Yap-Hang Chan
Kui-Kai Lau
Hung-Fat Tse
Azmil H. Abdul-Rahim
Gregory Y. H. Lip
Kai-Hang Yiu
author_facet Christopher T. W. Tsang
Sylvia E. Choi
Tommaso Bucci
Jia-Yi Huang
Qing-Wen Ren
Mei-Zhen Wu
Wen-Li Gu
Ran Guo
Jing-Nan Zhang
Anthony O. T. Ma
Steven H. M. Lam
Yap-Hang Chan
Kui-Kai Lau
Hung-Fat Tse
Azmil H. Abdul-Rahim
Gregory Y. H. Lip
Kai-Hang Yiu
author_sort Christopher T. W. Tsang
collection DOAJ
description Background: A recent position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke proposed an integrated ABCstroke pathway to optimise post-stroke management. We evaluated the impact of ABCstroke pathway adherence on post-stroke cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke in Hong Kong between 2006 and 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between physicians’ adherence to the ABCstroke pathway and the primary outcome, which was a composite of recurrent ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, haemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and all-cause mortality. Results: Of the 9,669 included patients with ischaemic stroke (mean age 69.6 ± 13.4 years; 57.5% male), 58.1% were optimally managed according to all three ABCstroke pillars. After 1 year of follow-up, adherence to the ABCstroke pathway was associated with a lower risk of the primary composite endpoint (hazard ratio (HR): 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72–0.88), as well as a lower risk of haemorrhagic stroke (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR): 0.50; 95% CI: 0.38–0.67), heart failure (SHR: 0.771; 95% CI: 0.596–0.998), cardiovascular death (SHR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.45–0.90), and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.62–0.85). Risk reductions in the primary endpoint increased progressively with a higher number of ABCstroke criteria obtained. No significant interaction was observed in the association according to age, sex, or stroke severity. Conclusions: In this cohort of Asian patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke, optimal management according to the ABCstroke pathway was associated with a reduction in the risk of adverse outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-eec3e5b4709e4c45aa30e5bee6c49c81
institution OA Journals
issn 2211-8179
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Ubiquity Press
record_format Article
series Global Heart
spelling doaj-art-eec3e5b4709e4c45aa30e5bee6c49c812025-08-20T02:22:16ZengUbiquity PressGlobal Heart2211-81792025-05-01201464610.5334/gh.14301411Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic StrokeChristopher T. W. Tsang0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3394-6604Sylvia E. Choi1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3012-8219Tommaso Bucci2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2895-6234Jia-Yi Huang3Qing-Wen Ren4Mei-Zhen Wu5Wen-Li Gu6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5640-9337Ran Guo7Jing-Nan Zhang8Anthony O. T. Ma9Steven H. M. Lam10https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2147-0995Yap-Hang Chan11Kui-Kai Lau12https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8657-2418Hung-Fat Tse13Azmil H. Abdul-Rahim14https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1318-4027Gregory Y. H. Lip15https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7566-1626Kai-Hang Yiu16https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2145-3108Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool; Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool; Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, RomeCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool; Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, LiverpoolCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongNeurology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool; Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool; Stroke Division, Department of Medicine for Older People, Whiston Hospital, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, PrescotLiverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Liverpool, UK; Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg UniversityCardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong Shen Zhen Hospital, Shen ZhenBackground: A recent position paper of the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke proposed an integrated ABCstroke pathway to optimise post-stroke management. We evaluated the impact of ABCstroke pathway adherence on post-stroke cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke in Hong Kong between 2006 and 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between physicians’ adherence to the ABCstroke pathway and the primary outcome, which was a composite of recurrent ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, haemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and all-cause mortality. Results: Of the 9,669 included patients with ischaemic stroke (mean age 69.6 ± 13.4 years; 57.5% male), 58.1% were optimally managed according to all three ABCstroke pillars. After 1 year of follow-up, adherence to the ABCstroke pathway was associated with a lower risk of the primary composite endpoint (hazard ratio (HR): 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72–0.88), as well as a lower risk of haemorrhagic stroke (subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR): 0.50; 95% CI: 0.38–0.67), heart failure (SHR: 0.771; 95% CI: 0.596–0.998), cardiovascular death (SHR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.45–0.90), and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.62–0.85). Risk reductions in the primary endpoint increased progressively with a higher number of ABCstroke criteria obtained. No significant interaction was observed in the association according to age, sex, or stroke severity. Conclusions: In this cohort of Asian patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke, optimal management according to the ABCstroke pathway was associated with a reduction in the risk of adverse outcomes.https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1430strokepost-stroke careintegrated careabc pathwaycardiovascular outcomes
spellingShingle Christopher T. W. Tsang
Sylvia E. Choi
Tommaso Bucci
Jia-Yi Huang
Qing-Wen Ren
Mei-Zhen Wu
Wen-Li Gu
Ran Guo
Jing-Nan Zhang
Anthony O. T. Ma
Steven H. M. Lam
Yap-Hang Chan
Kui-Kai Lau
Hung-Fat Tse
Azmil H. Abdul-Rahim
Gregory Y. H. Lip
Kai-Hang Yiu
Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
Global Heart
stroke
post-stroke care
integrated care
abc pathway
cardiovascular outcomes
title Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
title_full Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
title_fullStr Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
title_full_unstemmed Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
title_short Integrated Care Using the ABCstroke Pathway Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes and Survival in Patients with First-Ever Ischaemic Stroke
title_sort integrated care using the abcstroke pathway improves cardiovascular outcomes and survival in patients with first ever ischaemic stroke
topic stroke
post-stroke care
integrated care
abc pathway
cardiovascular outcomes
url https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1430
work_keys_str_mv AT christophertwtsang integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT sylviaechoi integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT tommasobucci integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT jiayihuang integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT qingwenren integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT meizhenwu integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT wenligu integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT ranguo integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT jingnanzhang integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT anthonyotma integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT stevenhmlam integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT yaphangchan integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT kuikailau integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT hungfattse integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT azmilhabdulrahim integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT gregoryyhlip integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke
AT kaihangyiu integratedcareusingtheabcstrokepathwayimprovescardiovascularoutcomesandsurvivalinpatientswithfirsteverischaemicstroke