Stroke Awareness In Outpatients. (P2.302)

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to assess the knowledge about stroke and cardiovascular risk factors in outpatients. BACKGROUND: Knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) is essential to prevent stroke or acute myocardial infarction. Last year, we presented at the 66 th AAN a poster regarding the lack of knowledge of stroke and the measures to prevent cardiovascular disease in patients admitted to coronary care unit. This year we evaluated it in outpatients. DESIGN/METHODS: An adapted version of the Stroke Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ) was performed, excluding patients who refused or were unable to answer. We analysed the data using spss 20.0sv RESULTS: 100 patients, 50[percnt] interviewed at the cardiology clinic and 50[percnt] at the neurology clinic. 59[percnt] women. Mean age 55.6 years-old, 25[percnt] were first time consult. CVRF: 44[percnt] hypertension, 39[percnt] dyslipidemia, 5[percnt] diabetes, 4[percnt] smoker, 12[percnt] coronary heart disease, 14[percnt] arrhythmias, 10[percnt] stroke, 20[percnt] history of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease. Family history: 39[percnt] coronary heart disease, 25[percnt] stroke. Stroke definition: 37[percnt] “blood clot”, 27[percnt] “bleeding” and 9[percnt] “a circulatory disorder”. 16[percnt] didn´t know. Stroke risk factors: 40[percnt] stress, 50[percnt] hypertension, 29[percnt] dyslipidemia, 31[percnt] smoking, 8[percnt] diabetes, 13[percnt] family history of stroke, 33[percnt] prior stroke. Stroke symptoms: 34[percnt] headache, 23[percnt] speech disorders, 20[percnt] weakness, 20[percnt] facial asymmetry. 77[percnt] would request an ambulance if a third party was having a stroke. Comparing both groups, outpatients had a higher educational level and more frequent stroke family history. Stroke awareness was statistically significantly higher in outpatients (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: General knowledge about CVRF is still insufficient in the outpatient population, even when assessed in the cardiology or neurology clinic. We believe that increased knowledge about stroke in outpatients, compared to inpatients, is due to higher educational level and a higher amount of family members with a history of stroke. Study Supported by: Disclosure: Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gonzalez Toledo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Moschini has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pagani Cassara has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tamargo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thomson has nothing to disclose. Dr. Klein has nothing to disclose.