Cardiovascular Diseases Commons^™

Persistent Gaps In Management And Risk Factor Control Among Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: All Of Us Research Program, Yakubu Bene-Alhasan, Soad Al Osta, Yussif Issaka, Isaac Acquah, Ahmad Alkhatib, Leen Othman, Samuel Mensah, Ato Howard, Christie Ballantyne, Salim S. Virani

Population Health, East Africa

Background

Methods

U.S. Cardiovascular Mortality Before And During Covid-19: Cdc Wonder Vs Gbd Comparison, Mirza Ali Baig, Muhammad Umar, Carol Becker, Salim S. Virani, Dmitry Abramov, Xiaoming Jia, Abdul Minhas

Population Health, East Africa

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Socioecological Exploration Of Community Health Promoters’ Barriers And Facilitators In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention In Kenya, Emily Muchina, Maureen Akolo, Rose Maina

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a growing public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, where there is an upsurge of risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have the potential to play a crucial role in CVD prevention and care to underserved communities in Kenya. However, there are limited studies on their experiences, which are likely shaped by multilevel barriers and facilitators across the individual CHP, the community, relationships with primary health systems, and societal-level policies and structures. This study explored the barriers and facilitators shaping CHPs’ experiences in mitigating CVD in Kenya.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive study was conducted …

Burden Of Cardiovascular Disease In Pakistan – Insight From Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Ali Bin Jabbar, Taha Mansoor, Sana Sheikh, Tazeen Jafar, Sawera Hanif, Christian Razo, Mahboob Alam, Jamal Rana, Khurram Nasir, Salim Virani

Population Health, East Africa

Background Pakistan, currently the fifth-largest country by population globally, has experienced a population increase of over 100% since 1990. It is facing an escalating challenge from cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study provides an in-depth evaluation of Pakistan's health situation since 1990, offering essential insights into the nation's overall health conditions.

Methods The data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, which provides records for global, regional, and national burden of diseases. Specifically, data regarding CVD and its subtypes, morbidity, and mortality in Pakistan and globally from 1990 to 2019 were used …

Sex Differences In Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, And Outcomes Of Cardiovascular Disease: Kenya Heart Registry Analysis, Lilian Mbau, Martha Gulati, Mzee Ngunga, Jasmit Shah, Felix Barasa, Jeilan Mohamed, Anders Barasa, Bernard Gitura, Harun Otieno, Etienne Amendezo

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, with approximately 80% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Sex differences in cardiovascular disease are well described in high-income countries but limited in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the sex differences in clinical presentation, cardiovascular risk profile, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes among patients in the Kenya Heart Registry.

Methods Data were prospectively collected from 3 tertiary hospitals, including patients with heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, venous thromboembolism, and atrial fibrillation. Primary outcomes were in-hospital and 6-month mortality, as well as sex-specific differences …

Community Health Promoters’ Experiences In Mitigation Of Cardiovascular Diseases In Lari Sub-County - Kiambu County, Kenya, Emily Njeri Muchina

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a rising public health issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, where there is an escalation of their deaths and preventable risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have a crucial role in the prevention of CVDs. Yet, low knowledge of CVD prevention and low detection of CVD risk factors characterise most underserved communities in Kenya. Little has been documented about CHPs' experiences in mitigating CVDs despite the presence of multilevel barriers and facilitators that can shape their experiences.

Aim: To gain an in-depth insight into the experiences of CHPs in mitigating CVD …

Statin Utilization And Cardiovascular Outcomes In A Real-World Primary Prevention Cohort Of Older Adults, Aaron J. Walker, Jianhui Zhu, Floyd Thoma, Oscar Marroquin, Amber Makani, Martha Gulati, Eugenia Gianos, Salim S. Virani, Fatima Rodriguez, Steven E. Reis, Christie Ballantyne

Office of the Provost

Background: Statins are a cost-effective therapy for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Guidelines on statins for primary prevention are unclear for older adults (>75 years).
Objective: Investigate statin utility in older adults without ASCVD events, by risk stratifying in a large healthcare network.
Methods: We included 8,114 older adults, without CAD, PVD or ischemic stroke. Statin utilization based on ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk calculation, was evaluated in intermediate (7.5%-19.9%) and high-risk patients (≥ 20%); and categorized using low and 'moderate or high' intensity statins with a follow up period of ∼7 years. Cox regression models were used to …

Acute Coronary Syndrome Patterns In The Young: Risk Factor Profile And In-Hospital Outcomes In A Tertiary Referral Hospital In Kenya, Nadeem Kassam, Mzee Ngunga, Mohamed Varwani, Miriam Msunza, Jeilan Mohamed

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) accounts for coronary artery disease (CAD) –related morbidity and mortality. There has been growing concern about the rising incidence of ACS among young individuals globally both in developed and developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa. This group’s phenotypic characteristics; risk factors and clinical outcomes are not well described. contextual and regional studies are necessary to understand the magnitude of ACS among young Individuals and help highlight challenges and opportunities for improved ACS outcomes in the region. The study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of young individuals hospitalized with ACS and report on in-hospital …

Differing Radiation Exposure In Scrub Technicians And Rotating Staff In Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory: Occupation Matters, Nasir Rahman, Maleeha Javed, Ghufran Adnan, Maria Khan, Zeenat Nizar, Izat Shah

Section of Cardiology

Background: Radiation exposure is a significant hazard associated with invasive Cardiology, with most studies based on primary operator exposure. This prospective, observational study aimed to find out over lead radiation exposure as effective dose acquired by non-physician staff comprising scrub technicians and rotating staff in the cath laboratory. Effective dose (ED) measured per procedure via Raysafe i2®dosimeter badges worn by both rotating staff and scrub technicians over lead aprons along with dose area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time (FT) and procedure time (PT) in minutes was collected prospectively over forty-six invasive Cardiology procedures.
Results: This study shows that rotating staff acquire …

Association Of Cardiovascular Risk Profile With Premature All-Cause And Cardiovascular Mortality In Us Adults: Findings From A National Study, Ryan T. Nguyen, Vardhmaan Jain, Isaac Acquah, Safi U. Khan, Tarang Parekh, Mohamad Taha, Salim S. Virani, Michael J. Blaha, Khurram Nasir, Zulqarnain Javed Zulqarnain Javed

Office of the Provost

Objective: To assess the association between cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) profile and premature all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among US adults (age < 65).
Methods: This study used data from the National Health Interview Survey from 2006 to 2014, linked to the National Death Index for non-elderly adults aged < 65 years. A composite CRF score (range = 0-6) was calculated, based on the presence or absence of six established cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, obesity, and insufficient physical activity. CRF profile was defined as "Poor" (≥ 3 risk factors), "Average" (1-2), or "Optimal" (0 risk factors). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were reported across CRF profile categories, separately for all-cause and CVD mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association between CRF profile and all-cause and CVD mortality.
Results: Among 195,901 non-elderly individuals (mean age: 40.4 ± 13.0, 50% females and 70% Non-Hispanic (NH) White adults), 24.8% had optimal, 58.9% average, and 16.2% poor CRF profiles, respectively. Participants with poor CRF profile were more likely to be NH Black, have lower educational attainment and lower income compared to those with …

In Memoriam: Prof. Dr. Rer. Nat. Jeanette Erdmann, Pashmina Wiqar Shah, Satwat Hashmi, Tobias Reinberger, Nadine Odenthal, Luis Eichelmann, Daria Kosenko, Ilyas Ahmad, Jaafar Al-Hasani, Till Joscha Demal, Zouhair Aherrahrou

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Closing The Gaps In Care Of Dyslipidemia: Revolutionizing Management With Digital Health And Innovative Care Models, Samuel J. Apple, Rachel Clark, Jonathan Daich, Macarena Lopez Gonzalez, Robert J. Ostfeld, Peter P. Toth, Vera Bittner, Seth S. Martin, Jamal S. Rana, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Although great progress has been made in the diagnostic and treatment options for dyslipidemias, unawareness, underdiagnosis and undertreatment of these disorders remain a significant global health concern. Growth in digital applications and newer models of care provide novel tools to improve the management of chronic conditions such as dyslipidemia. In this review, we discuss the evolving landscape of lipid management in the 21st century, current treatment gaps and possible solutions through digital health and new models of care. Our discussion begins with the history and development of value-based care and the national establishment of quality metrics for various chronic conditions. …

Pm2.5 And Cardiovascular Diseases: State-Of-The-Art Review, Chayakrit Krittanawong, Yusuf Kamran Qadeer, Richard B. Hayes, Zhen Wang, George D. Thurston, Salim S. Virani, Carl J. Lavie

Office of the Provost

Air pollution, especially exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), has been associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality around the world. Specifically, it seems that PM2.5 promotes the development of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, while being associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias. In this review, we seek to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms by which exposure to PM2.5 can result in adverse cardiovascular outcomes, in addition to understanding the link between exposure to PM2.5 and cardiovascular events. It is hypothesized that PM2.5 functions via 3 …

Association Between E-Cigarette Use And Myocardial Infarction: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Muhammad Talal Ashraf, Asim Shaikh, Muhammad Shakeel Khuzzaim Khan, Naseer Uddin, Muhammad Arham Bin Kashif, Syed Hassan Ahmed Rizvi, Hammad Khalid, Stafford Jude Sam, Affan Sohail

Department of Medicine

Background: The popularity of e-cigarettes has risen dramatically over the last few years, particularly among the younger population. Although the use of combustible cigarettes has established evidence to be associated with the development of several adverse cardiopulmonary diseases, the investigations regarding the prospective long-term effects of e-cigarette use on the cardiovascular system have just begun. We set to investigate if there is an association between the history of MI and e-cigarette use among smokers and non-smokers?
Methods: The current review aims to assess the association of myocardial infarction with e-cigarette consumption. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled …

Heartburn's Hidden Impact: A Narrative Review Exploring Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd) As A Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor, Jacob J. Gries, Bing Chen, Salim S. Virani, Hafeez Ul Hassan Virk, Hani Jneid, Chayakrit Krittanawong

Office of the Provost

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a very common disease with an estimated 442 million cases worldwide. It is a well-documented independent risk factor for many gastrointestinal pathologies, however, its role in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear, despite its high prevalence in patients with CVD. Although traditionally considered a causative agent of noncardiac chest pain, a common imitator of cardiac chest pain, or an incidentally shared comorbidity in patients with CVD, a number of studies have implicated GERD and its therapies as risk factors for CVD. This narrative review will explore the relationship between GERD and CVD, including medical and mechanical …

Pakistan Study Of Premature Coronary Atherosclerosis In Young Adults (Pak-Sehat): A Prospective Longitudinal Study Protocol Investigating The Prevalence, Severity And Determinants Of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease In The Young Adult Pakistani Population, Bashir Hanif, Sana Sheikh, Ghazal Peerwani, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Wajiha Javed, Jaffer Bin Baqar, Zainab Samad, Faiza Bashir, Salim S. Virani, Khurram Nasir

Section of Cardiology

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and health expenditures worldwide. Despite having higher ASCVD in the Pakistani population, data on subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in young Pakistanis remain scarce. The PAKistan Study of prEmature coronary atHerosclerosis in young AdulTs (PAK-SEHAT) aims to assess the prevalence, severity and determinants of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis among Pakistani men (35-60 years) and women (35-65 years) free of clinically symptomatic ASCVD and will assess 5-year rates of ASCVD events.
Methods and analysis: PAK-SEHAT is an ongoing prospective cohort study with 2000 participants from all provinces of Pakistan who will be …

Acute Myocardial Infarction From A Lower-Middle Income Country-A Comprehensive Report On Performance Measures And Quality Metrics Using National Cardiovascular Data Registry, Farhala Mari Baloch, Ainan Arshad, Sher Sethi, Javed Tai

Section of Cardiology

Introduction: Epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is widely projected in South Asian population and estimated to get double in two decades. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the spectrums of CVD and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) being the common manifestations of IHD. National Cardiovascular Data Registry (NCDR) is a registry data that measure their practices and improve quality of care. In this project we aim to see our performance trends in the care of IHD including AMI patients over two year's period.
Material & methods: A cross sectional study conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. All …

Ten Steps Toward Improving In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Quality Of Care And Outcomes, Brahmajee K. Nallamothu, Robert Greif, Theresa Anderson, Huba Atiq, Thomaz Bittencourt Couto, Julie Considine, Allan R De Caen, Therese Djärv, Ann Doll, Matthew J. Douma

Department of Anaesthesia

No abstract provided.

Novel Size-Based High-Density Lipoprotein Subspecies And Incident Vascular Events, Austin Deets, Parag H. Joshi, Alvin Chandra, Kavisha Singh, Amit Khera, Salim S. Virani, Christie M. Ballantyne, James D. Otvos, Robin P F. Dullaart, Eke G. Gruppen

Office of the Provost

Background: High‐density lipoprotein (HDL) particle concentration likely outperforms HDL cholesterol in predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. Whether size‐based HDL subspecies explain the atheroprotective associations of HDL particle concentration remains unknown. Our objective was to assess whether levels of specific size‐based HDL subspecies associate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in a multiethnic pooled cohort and improve risk prediction beyond traditional atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Methods and Results: Seven HDL size‐based subspecies were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (LP4 algorithm; H1=smallest; H7=largest) among participants without prior atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), MESA (Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), PREVEND (Prevention of …

Frequency Of Dysnatremia In Patients Admitted With Covid-19 Infection And Its Prognostic Implication, Farah Gul Khan, Saadia Sattar, Muhammad M. Yaqoob, Nida Vallani, Maryam Asad

Section of Nephrology

Objective: We aimed to investigate the frequency of dysnatremia among patients admitted with COVID-19 infection and its association with inpatient mortality.
Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study was conducted for 12 weeks. Serum sodium levels were recorded at admission, during the hospital stay, and within 48 hours of discharge or death. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of mortality.
Results: This study included 574 patients (69.7% men, age 55.6 ± 14.4 years). On admission, mean sodium was 135.9 ± 6.4 mEq/L; 39% had hyponatremia and 4.7% had hypernatremia. During admission, hypernatremia increased to 18.8%; maximum sodium in patients who …

Contaminant Metals And Cardiovascular Health, Karl Kristian Lundin, Yusuf Kamran Qadeer, Zhen Wang, Salim S. Virani, Roman Leischik, Carl J. Lavie, Markus Strauss, Chayakrit Krittanawong

Office of the Provost

A growing body of research has begun to link exposure to environmental contaminants, such as heavy metals, with a variety of negative health outcomes. In this paper, we sought to review the current research describing the impact of certain common contaminant metals on cardiovascular (CV) health. We reviewed ten metals: lead, barium, nickel, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, selenium, zinc, and copper. After a literature review, we briefly summarized the routes of environmental exposure, pathophysiological mechanisms, CV health impacts, and exposure prevention and/or mitigation strategies for each metal. The resulting article discloses a broad spectrum of pathological significance, from relatively benign …

Association Between Historical Neighborhood Redlining And Cardiovascular Outcomes Among Us Veterans With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases, Salil V. Deo, Issam Motairek, Khurram Nasir, Amgad Mentias, Yakov Elgudin, Salim S. Virani, Sanjay Rajagopalan, Sadeer Al-Kindi

Office of the Provost

Importance: In the 1930s, the government-sponsored Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) established maps of US neighborhoods that identified mortgage risk (grade A [green] characterizing lowest-risk neighborhoods in the US through mechanisms that transcend traditional risk factors to grade D [red] characterizing highest risk). This practice led to disinvestments and segregation in neighborhoods considered redlined. Very few studies have targeted whether there is an association between redlining and cardiovascular disease.
Objective: To evaluate whether redlining is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in US veterans.
Design, setting, and participants: In this longitudinal cohort study, US veterans were followed up (January 1, 2016, …

Clinical Characteristics, Management, And 5-Year Survival Compared Between No Standard Modifiable Risk Factor (Smurfless) And ≥ 1 Smurf Acs Cases: An Analysis Of 15,051 Cases From Pakistan, Sana Sheikh, Ghazal Peerwani, Bashir Hanif, Salim S. Virani

Section of Cardiology

Background: There has been an increase in Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients without standard modifiable risk factors i.e. hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and tobacco use (SMuRFless) compared to the patients with ≥ 1 SMuRF but this has not been studied in South Asia despite them being a high-risk population. We conducted a comparative analysis of first episodes of ACS cases admitted to a tertiary cardiac center in Pakistan between SMuRFless and ≥ 1 SMuRF patients for clinical presentation, management, in-hospital, and 5-year mortality.
Methods: We undertook a retrospective study and data of 15,051 patients admitted at Tabba Heart Institute (THI) with …

Low Educational Attainment Is Associated With Higher All-Cause And Cardiovascular Mortality In The United States Adult Population, Najah Khan, Zulqarnain Javed, Isaac Acquah, Kobina Hagan, Madiha Khan, Javier Valero-Elizondo, Ryan Chang, Umair Javed, Mohamad B. Taha, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Introduction: Educational attainment is an important social determinant of health (SDOH) for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the association between educational attainment and all-cause and CVD mortality has not been longitudinally evaluated on a population-level in the US, especially in individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this nationally representative study, we assessed the association between educational attainment and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality in the general adult population and in adults with ASCVD in the US.
Methods: We used data from the 2006-2014 National Death Index-linked National Health Interview Survey for adults ≥ 18 years. We generated …

Aspirin With Or Without Statin In Individuals Without Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Across Risk Categories, Safi U. Khan, Ahmad N. Lone, Neal S. Kleiman, Adeel Arshad, Vardhmaan Jain, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Hassaan B. Arshad, Sourbha S. Dani, Amit Khera, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Background: The effects of aspirin in adults without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), stratified by statin use across different ASCVD risks, remain uncertain.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aspirin in adults without ASCVD, stratified by statin use across different ASCVD risks.
Methods: We searched databases through March 2022 and selected randomized controlled trials of aspirin without ASCVD and follow-up of ≥1 year. We used random-effects models and estimated relative and absolute risks for cardiovascular outcomes, major bleeding, and mortality over 5 years. We calculated absolute risk differences assuming constant relative risks (RRs) across statin …

Identification And Management Of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk In South Asian Populations In The U.S., Anandita Agarwala, Priyanka Satish, Mahmoud Al Rifai, Anurag Mehta, Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Nilay S. Shah, Alka M. Kanaya, Garima V. Sharma, Dave L. Dixon, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

South Asians (SAs, individuals with ancestry from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) are among the fastest growing ethnic subgroups in the United States. SAs typically experience a high prevalence of diabetes, abdominal obesity, and hypertension, among other cardiovascular disease risk factors, which are often under recognized and undermanaged. The excess coronary heart disease risk in this growing population must be critically assessed and managed with culturally appropriate preventive services. Accordingly, this scientific document prepared by a multidisciplinary group of clinicians and investigators in cardiology, internal medicine, pharmacy, and SA-centric researchers describes key characteristics of traditional and …

Lipoprotein(A) In Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease And Aortic Stenosis: A European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Statement, Florian Kronenberg, Samia Mora, Erik S G Stroes, Brian Ference Ference Ference, Benoit J. Arsenault, Lars Berglund, Marc R. Dweck, Marlys Koschinsky, Gilles Lambert, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

This 2022 European Atherosclerosis Society lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] consensus statement updates evidence for the role of Lp(a) in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and aortic valve stenosis, provides clinical guidance for testing and treating elevated Lp(a) levels, and considers its inclusion in global risk estimation. Epidemiologic and genetic studies involving hundreds of thousands of individuals strongly support a causal and continuous association between Lp(a) concentration and cardiovascular outcomes in different ethnicities; elevated Lp(a) is a risk factor even at very low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. High Lp(a) is associated with both microcalcification and macrocalcification of the aortic valve. Current findings do …

Comparison Of Premature, Extremely Premature, And Older Adults With Coronary Artery Disease In Pakistan, Waqas Ullah, Rehan Malik, Faiza Bashir, Mustafa Khan, Saud Khan, Mahboob Alam, Zainab Samad, Miguel C. Achirica, Salim S. Virani, Bashir Hanif

Section of Cardiology

No abstract provided.

Monoclonal Antibodies, Gene Silencing And Gene Editing (Crispr) Therapies For The Treatment Of Hyperlipidemia-The Future Is Here, Melody Hermel, Madison Lieberman, Leandro Slipczuk, Jamal S. Rana, Salim S. Virani

Office of the Provost

Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Undertreatment of elevated lipids persists despite existing therapies. Here, we provide an update on monoclonal antibodies, gene silencing therapies, and gene editing techniques for the management of hyperlipidemia. The current era of cutting-edge pharmaceuticals targeting low density lipoprotein cholesterol, PCSK9, lipoprotein (a), angiopoietin-like 3, and apolipoprotein C3 are reviewed. We outline what is known, studies in progress, and futuristic goals. This review of available and upcoming biotechnological lipid therapies is presented for clinicians managing patients with familial hyperlipidemia, statin intolerance, hypertriglyceridemia, or elevated lipoprotein (a) levels.

A Qualitative Description Of Barriers To Visual Rehabilitation Experienced By Stroke Survivors With Visual Impairment In Alberta, Canada, Kiran Pohar Manhas, Katelyn Brehon, Jennis Jiang, Karim F. Damji, Fiona Costello

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Background: Post-stroke visual impairment (VI) is a common but under-recognized care challenge. Common manifestations of post-stroke VI include: diplopia, homonymous hemianopia, oscillopsia secondary to nystagmus, and visual inattention or neglect. In acute care settings, post-stroke VI recognition and treatment are often sub-optimal as emphasis is placed on survival. Stroke survivors with VI often face inconsistencies when accessing care out of hospital because variable availability and subsidization of visual rehabilitation. We sought to identify gaps in care experienced by stroke survivors with VI from stroke survivors' and care providers' perspectives.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative description study across 12 care sites …