Cardiovascular risk factor assessment in late-onset seizures: A study protocol to assess the value of structured intervention.

OBJECTIVE

A growing body of evidence suggests patients with late-onset seizures are at an increased risk of stroke, but the potential for reducing cardiovascular morbidity through risk factor screening and management is unknown. We aim to determine whether individuals with new-onset unprovoked seizures after middle age should undergo vascular risk assessment. The long follow-up needed to assess stroke risk and the known benefit of vascular risk factor modification make a standard RCT logistically and ethically challenging. Instead, we propose and have developed a protocol for a cluster project assessing the effect of vascular risk factor screening in an intervention trial as well as a cohort study.

METHODS

Participating neurology clinics will implement standard cardiovascular risk factor assessment into the routine evaluation for individuals aged ≥50 years attending their first specialized consultation after an unprovoked seizure, excluding those with progressive brain disease. The project has two interlinked components: a prospective single group trial, in which risk factor assessment is performed and subsequent management is followed for one year; and a register-based cohort study examining the long-term effects of the intervention on a system level by comparing patients attending initial consultations in the 2 years after start of the study, with patients seen in the four preceding years at the same clinics.

ANALYSIS

The primary outcome of the intervention trial is the proportion of patients receiving subsequent pharmacological treatment. The primary outcome of the cohort study is the incidence of acute stroke in the Swedish Stroke Register.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Swedish Ethical Review Authority approval (which is valid for 2 years only) will be sought when funding is obtained. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific publications.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

The study will be registered at clinicaltrials.gov.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

A first seizure in a middle-aged or older person indicates a higher risk of stroke. It is not known whether investigating and treating blood pressure, blood cholesterol, or similar risk factors after a first seizure is an effective way to prevent stroke. A traditional clinical study would need too many patients and it would be unethical not to treat the control group. We have designed a study in which participating neurology departments change their practice to test and treat vascular risk factors. Patients are then compared to historic controls using registered data.