Medication given to ischemic stroke patients at discharge to prevent recurrence of stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes occur when the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. There are two classifications of strokes and the treatment may be different depending on the underlying cause of the stroke. A stroke can be hemorrhagic or ischemic. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Strokes require immediate medical attention. The sooner patients are treated for a stroke, the more likely they are to survive and have a better quality of life after the stroke.

Antithrombotic therapy is medication given to reduce the formation of blood clots. Studies have suggested that antithrombotic therapy should be prescribed at discharge following ischemic stroke to lower the risk of future strokes and stroke-related illness and death. A higher percentage may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percentage of ischemic stroke patients who were prescribed antithrombotic therapy upon discharge from the hospital.

In this case, a higher number is better.