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Importance of time

Importance of time

Stroke is a medical emergency, and time is critical. Recognising the symptoms of a stroke and being aware of the time factor involved in seeking immediate medical treatment can greatly reduce the chance of permanent damage or disability.

  • The majority of patients with ischaemic stroke do not reach the hospital soon enough.
  • Education endeavours should inform the public about symptoms and signs of stroke particularly in the case of high-risk patients and their families and colleagues, and of employees and employers in large companies.
  • If the first contact is the general practitioner or family doctor, this frequently leads to delays in transportation and the early start of therapy.
  • Pre-hospital evaluation of potential stroke patients can be accomplished promptly after activation of the emergency medical services (EMS) system.
  • Urgent evaluation and transport of potential stroke patients is essential.
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Watch our educational video to learn more about the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke.

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Thrombolytic therapy effects are time dependent1-5

  • The 2010 pooled analysis of rt-PA trials for ischaemic stroke showed that the earlier treatment is initiated, the better the outcome, and the lower the number of patients needed to treat (NNT) with rt-PA to achieve one additional favourable outcome (classified as a modified Rankin score of 0-1) (Figure 1):
     

Figure 1: NNT to reach a modified Rankin score of 0-1 according to the time from onset of stroke to the start of treatment1

Figure_1.png

  
Treatment within 0-90 min → NNT 4-5

Treatment within 90-180 min → NNT 9

Treatment within 3-4.5 hours → NNT 14
  

The SITS-MOST1-5 registry shows that:

  • "Real-life" treatment with rt-PA within 3 hours of symptom onset results in greater independence in activities of daily living when compared with treatment given during randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (54.8% vs. 50.1%; SITS-MOST vs. RCTs, respectively).
  • "Real-life" treatment with rt-PA within 3 hours of symptom onset resulted in reduced mortality when compared with RCTs (11.3% vs. 17.3%; SITS-MOST vs. RCTs, respectively).
  • SITS-ISTR confirms the safety and efficacy of rt-PA for the thrombolysis of ischaemic stroke within the approved 3-hour time window as well as in the 3-4.5 hour time window.
  • rt-PA is not licensed for use beyond 4.5 hours after stroke symptom onset.*
  • All patients being considered for rt-PA therapy must undergo urgent brain imaging (CT or MRI), a physical examination, blood tests, a neurological assessment, and a patient history - all within a timeframe that will allow rt-PA treatment to begin within 4.5 hours* of symptom onset.
  • The concept that if a patient arrives early, the doctor has more time, is totally inacceptable, as studies show that the earlier treatment is implemented, the better the outcome.

*As this differs in some countries, please check your local prescribing regulations for the currently recommended time window for the use of rt-PA.

References
  • 1.
    Wahlgren N, et al. SITS Investigators. Thrombolysis with alteplase 3-4.5h after acute ischaemic stroke (SITS-ISTR): an observational study. Lancet 2008;372:1303-1309.
  • 2.
    Lees K, et al. Time to treatment with intravenous alteplase and outcome in stroke: an updated pooled analysis of ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS, and EPITHET trials. Lancet 2010;375:1695-1703.
  • 3.
    Ahmed N, et al; for the SITS Investigators. Implementation and outcome of thrombolysis with alteplase 3-4.5 h after an acute stroke: an updated analysis from SITS-ISTR. Lancet Neurol 2010;9:866-874.
  • 4.
    Wahlgren N, et al; the SITS-MOST Investigators. Thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST): an observational study. Lancet 2007;369:275-282.
  • 5.
    SITS-Database https://sitsinternational.org

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