Knowledge of stroke and medication adherence among patients with recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack in Indonesia: a multi-center, cross-sectional study

Concomitant cavernous sinus thrombosis and central serous chorioretinopathy in a patient with total ophthalmoplegia and monocular blindness: a case report

Cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST) is an unusual condition that can result in high mortality and morbidity rate if not treated immediately.

Case presentation

An Indonesian male, 47 years old, presented with total right ocular ophthalmoplegia followed by blindness, headache, ptosis, periorbital swelling, and hypoesthesia over the left V1 region. MRI of the brain showed suitable cavernous thickening until the right orbital apex, which in contrast showed enhancement suggestive of right Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. The patient was treated with a high dose of steroids, but the patient's complaints did not improve. The patient underwent digital subtraction angiography and found CST. The optical coherence tomography was found to be central serous chorioretinopathy. He was treated with an antibiotic, anticoagulant, and extraction of the right maxillary molar was performed to remove the source of the infection. After 3 weeks, visual acuity and optical coherence tomography examination were improved.

Discussion

A comprehensive examination, such as digital subtraction angiography, is essential to confirm CST diagnosis for the patient to obtain the right therapy. This report highlighted the value of the prompt diagnosis of CST through neuroimaging and the importance of proper therapy in patient management.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis, comprehensive examination, and proper treatment of CST will increase good prognosis.

Intravenous thrombolysis in patient with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and antiplatelet medication

Introduction: While the overall incidence of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is less than 0.05%-0.06%, it is not uncommon in patients experiencing acute stroke. The influence of VBD on the outcome of intravenous (IV) thrombolysis therapy has not been widely studied. We present the following case of IV thrombolysis use in a patient experiencing acute stroke, who had an increased risk of bleeding due to prior antiplatelet use, and who had concomitant VBD. Case presentation: A 62-year-old man presented with weakness in the left extremities that had begun 1 hour prior to admission. The patient had a history of coronary artery disease and had been regularly taking antiplatelet medication. Upon arrival, the patient was in a decreased level of consciousness, with severe dysarthria, left central facial palsy, left lateralization, and a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 17. Computed tomography scan of the head showed no intracranial hemorrhage. The patient was administered IV thrombolysis at 2 hours and 45 minutes after symptom onset. Within the first 24 hours, the patient's NIHSS score decreased from 17 to 12, and the final NIHSS score prior to discharge was 7. The Head and neck angiography of this patient revealed VBD. Conclusion: This case demonstrated that IV thrombolysis is safe and effective for use in patients with acute ischemic stroke who have a history of antiplatelet usage and who experience concomitant VBD.

Stroke Burden and Stroke Services in Indonesia

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in Indonesia. Stroke requires high quality, fast and precise management to prevent and avoid disability and death. Stroke can be prevented by adequately controlling for risk factors and encouraging healthy life styles. Efforts are needed to organize health promotion programs at the community level. More and a better distribution of neurologists and neurointerventionalists is needed. All hospitals should have a CT scan machine and stroke units. Telemedicine for stroke patient is very promising endeavor for an integrated acute stroke management system.

Socioeconomic impacts on medication adherence among patients with hypertension: A multicentre cross-sectional study in Lombok, Indonesia

Socioeconomic impacts on adherence are understudied, particularly in disadvantaged areas. This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic factors on medication adherence among patients with hypertension in Lombok, Indonesia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in all six public hospital outpatient clinics in Lombok in 2017. Data was obtained using a validated questionnaire to which the Morisky Green Levine Adherence Scale (MGLS) questionnaire was used to assess medication adherence. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine independent socioeconomic associations. A total of 693 patients with hypertension were included (response rate 84%). The majority had low adherence (76.2%). Significant independent associations were reported between setting and education with adherence (rural versus urban setting: odds ratio 3.54, p<0.001; primary versus university level education: odds ratio 5.39, p<0.001). Socioeconomic associations provide some basis for the development of patient and population-based interventions to improve adherence among patients with hypertension in Indonesia, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Association Between Patient Activation and Medication Adherence in Patients With Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Medication adherence is key to secondary prevention in patients with stroke. Poor medication adherence can lead to recurrence, disability, or even death in stroke survivors. Patient activation is associated with increased healthy behaviors and improved clinical outcomes in many chronic diseases. However, the association between patient activation and medication adherence in patients with stroke remains unclear.

Objective: The study aimed to explore the influence of patient activation on the medication adherence of patients with stroke and to analyze the reasons for medication nonadherence.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional design with convenience sampling was used in this study. A total of 119 patients with stroke were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Guangzhou. A social-demographic and clinical data form, a self-developed medication adherence questionnaire, and the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13) were used. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis with dummy variables were conducted to investigate the associations between medication adherence and patient activation. Data were analyzed with IBM® SPSS® version 25.0.

Results: The mean PAM-13 score in patients with stroke was 51.56 ± 12.58. A low level of patient activation was reported by up to 66.4% of the patients. The self-reported medication adherence questionnaire score was 5.59 ± 1.52. A low level of medication adherence was reported by up to 59.7% of the patients, while a moderate level was reported by 34.4%, and a high level was reported by only 5.9%. In the multiple stepwise regression analysis, patient activation was found to be an independent influencing factor of medication adherence in patients with stroke (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Medication adherence was poor in patients in Guangzhou, China, following an ischemic stroke. Patient activation as the independent influencing factor identified in this study will support healthcare givers to develop the tailored intervention to improve medication adherence among patients with stroke in China.