State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium - NEWS TIPS

American Stroke Association Meeting Report - Embargoed until 11 a.m. HT/4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February, 5, 2013

February 05, 2013

Tip Highlights:

Many African-Americans with family history of stroke don’t acknowledge risks
Behavioral changes often occur in children after stroke

NOTE ALL TIMES ARE HAWAII (HT). ALL TIPS ARE EMBARGOED UNTIL THE TIME OF PRESENTATION OR 11 A.M. HT/4 P.M. ET EACH DAY, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. For more information Feb. 5-8, call the ASA News Media Staff Office at the Hawaii Convention Center: (808) 792-6506

. Before or after these dates, call the Communications Office in Dallas at (214) 706-1173

. For public inquiries, call (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721).
11 a.m. HT/4 p.m. ET - Abstract NS6
Many African-Americans with family history of stroke don’t acknowledge risks
Many young to middle-aged African-Americans with a family history of stroke don’t think they’re at higher risk and may not takes steps to prevent it, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium.
Researchers asked 66 African-Americans 19-54 years old (71 percent female) from the stroke belt region in Alabama about their perceptions of stroke risk, lifestyles, health history and more. They found:

Those with a family history of stroke didn’t differ on average number of risk factors compared to those without a family history of stroke. However, they were more likely (67 percent) to report a history of hypertension.
Knowledge of stroke risk factors, perceived stroke threat and recent exercise performance were about the same for those with a family history of stroke and those without a family history.
Those with a family history also had notably lower future intentions to exercise compared to those without a family history.

Interventions that personalize family history as a key risk factor and promote lifestyle change and self-management may play an important role in preventing stroke, researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 3:35 p.m. HT, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.

11 a.m. HT/4 p.m. ET - Abstract NS15
Behavioral changes affect many children after stroke
Behavioral changes, including emotional issues and depression, often affect children after stroke, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s State-of-the-Science Stroke Nursing Symposium.
Researchers studied 105 children 2-18 years old who had suffered arterial ischemic stroke, a type of stroke in which blood flow to the brain is blocked. They analyzed the children’s behavior at 3 and 12 months after stroke by surveying parents and conducting brain imaging.
They found:

Forty-two percent experienced emotional changes at 3 months and 36 percent at 12 months.
Fourteen percent reported depressive symptoms at 3 and 12 months.
Emotional changes at 3 months resolved at 12 months for 30 percent of the children. But 15 percent of the children who didn’t report emotional changes at 3 months developed them within a year.
Symptoms of depression resolved at 12 months in 58 percent who had symptoms at 3 months, while 8.3 percent of those without symptoms at 3 months reported depressive symptoms at a year.

Brain imaging didn’t help predict which children would suffer behaviorally.
Children who survive stroke should be assessed for behavioral difficulties and their parents should be educated about potential emotional effects as their children recover, researchers said.
Note: Actual presentation is 1:30 p.m. HT, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013.
Follow news from the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2013 via Twitter @HeartNews; #ISC13.

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Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Stroke Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

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ASA News Media in Dallas: (214) 706-1173

ASA News Media Office, Feb. 6-8
at the Hawaii Convention Center: (808) 792-6506

For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org