Nov 29, 2022
The Precious (Prevention of complications to improve outcome in elderly patients with acute stroke) research project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 634809), ends at the end of November 2022.
The research began in June 2015 to find out if off-the-shelf treatments could reduce complications in older patients suffering from acute stroke and ultimately reduce lives lost to stroke and improve quality of life.
By the end of the clinical trial, almost 1500 stroke patients participated in the research across nine European countries. Researchers are now analysing the results which are hoping to be published in 2023.
Last year, SAFE interviewed Dr Bart van der Worp, UMC Utrecht, Netherlands, project coordinator about the research for Brain Awareness Week, read the interview here
Now, as the research closes, SAFE follows up with Bart for an update:
SAFE: What are you hoping the Precious research will show?
Bart: We hope that the analysis of the patient data will reveal answers to the following questions:
- If we are able to prevent infections and fever in the first four days after stroke with simple, safe, and inexpensive drugs, will this reduce the risk of death or dependency after stroke; improve quality of life; and reduce the length of hospital admission and healthcare costs?
- Does the prevention of vomiting with a simple and safe anti-emetic drug reduce the risk of pneumonia?
- Does the pain killer paracetamol also reduce blood pressure after stroke?
- Are there differences between countries in treatment restrictions after stroke, such as do-not-resuscitate orders, and do these restrictions increase the risk of death?
SAFE: When are you hoping to have the results of the trial?
Bart: The investigators across the nine participating countries are currently completing follow-up and collecting the most recent patient data. Analysis of the most important data will be completed by the end of this year, and we hope to present the main trial results at the European Stroke Organisation Conference in May 2023.
For more information visit https://www.precious-trial.eu/
Nov 15, 2022
We are pleased to announce that our first in person European Life After Stroke Forum is now open for registration and abstract submission.
The European Life After Stroke Forum, 10 March 2023, Barcelona, Spain, is the place to find the latest evidence and research in this neglected area of stroke care.
About the Forum
The Forum’s aim is to build the life after stroke healthcare, research and patient community, stimulate debate and build our collective knowledge in life after stroke.
Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life after stroke for the nine million people living with stroke in Europe.
Registration
Register before the end of the year to benefit from our early bird rates. Book your place here bit.ly/3UDIuli
Programme overview
Our forum programme covers a range of topical issues in life after stroke and will include keynote presentations by eminent speakers supplemented by contributed talks and a poster session.
See our initial programme at bit.ly/3GeAgvr
Abstract submission
We are now seeking abstracts for the Forum, giving those interested an opportunity to present either a 10-minute oral presentation or a poster presentation.
We are looking for applications in two areas:
- Scientific applications: for completed or ongoing trials and studies in the broad area of life after stroke.
- Grab and Steal: to share experiences of service developments in life after stroke where these original ideas and innovative practices could be used by others.
You have until 10 January 2023 to submit your abstract and we look forward to receiving your submissions. Find out more bit.ly/3X0Je5x
Abstracts will be reviewed and all submissions will receive their notification letter by Friday 10 February 2023.
Hotel bookings
The Forum will be held at the Hotel Catalonia Barcelona Plaza. The hotel will offer delegate accommodation at €140 per night. To book, please email plaza.reservas@cataloniahotels.com and provide your name, your check-in and check-out dates, and mention the name of our event , ELASF2023.
Other accommodation can be found here
Key dates
31 December Early bird rates end
10 January Deadline for abstract submission
10 February Abstract notification
Nov 15, 2022
Estonia has signed the Stroke Action Plan for Europe Declaration, committing to improving stroke services across the entire chain of care.
We congratulate them in taking a step towards the full implementation of the Stroke Action Plan For Europe.
Find out more at actionplan.eso-stroke.org/
Nov 14, 2022
Join a hybrid event on Addressing gender-related issues and bias in the prevention and treatment of neurological conditions that will take place on Tuesday, 29 November from 13:00 to 15:00 CET.
The event is hosted by the MEP Interest Group on Brain, Mind and Pain (BMP) – an initiative of the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) and Pain Alliance Europe (PAE).
Gender-related issues and bias can have a negative impact on women’s health including needs being overlooked, conditions being under-diagnosed/ misdiagnosed and delays in treatment.
Hosted in the European Parliament by MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, FI), high-profile speakers, including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, policymakers and academics, will lead the discussions.
You can register here before 21 November 2022. Please note that due to the limited capacity of the room, participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. However, you can register here to access the event’s live-stream instead.
Nov 8, 2022
Not registered yet for the #LifeAfterStroke webinar tomorrow? Join all those who already signed up for this unique and popular free online event on Wednesday 9 November, from 10.00 CET. It’s not too late to join us and learn more about getting back to work, fatigue and physical activity after stroke.
Register at https://bit.ly/3BSVPQc
This event is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®). Delegates will be awarded three European CME credits (ECMEC®s) for attending all three sessions.
Nov 8, 2022
The ANGIE project aims to change the way we practice medicine by developing micro-robots for localised, targeted drug delivery to unblock blood vessels and fight stroke from within.
This ground-breaking project is funded by the EU and aims to develop nano-surgeons that will enter the body to treat blood clots.
Questions around issues related to communication, ethics, law, policy, and education will be discussed before the newly developed technology is released. This online event will discuss new market opportunities in the pharmaceutical industries.
Join the meeting via Zoom on 28 November 2022, 16.00 – 18.00 CET.
https://h2020-angie.eu/event/public-event-emerging-issues-on-targeted-drug-delivery-online-meeting/
Nov 1, 2022
The European Life After Stroke Forum Series event on Wednesday 9 November has been accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®) with three European CME credits (ECMEC®s).
With only a week to go, it is not too late to book your free place for this online event.
The event runs from 10.00 to 15.00 CET, covering sessions on getting back to work, fatigue and physical activity after stroke.
Programme topics cover getting back to #work, #fatigue and #physicalexercise #stroke
Join us – sign up here https://bit.ly/3BSVPQc
Nov 1, 2022
Sign up to the Unite Annual Summit on 30 November at 15.05 – 18.25 CET and learn how to grow and professionalise your patient organisations.
Jon Barrick, honorary SAFE member will join other experts in the field.
Book your place at https://globalhearthub.org/unite-summit-participant-registration-form/
Unite Summit – Participant Registration Form
Oct 25, 2022
Our second and final free online Life After Stroke event of 2022 is only two weeks away, on Wednesday 9 November.
If you have not registered yet, you can book your FREE place at https://bit.ly/3BSVPQc
There are three interesting sessions covering key issues faced by people living with stroke: getting back to work; fatigue and getting active. Chaired by Dr Carina Persson (Sweden), Professor Avril Drummond (England), and Juliet Bouverie (England) respectively. Each session will include a mix of presentations from stroke survivors and academically active speakers in the field of life after stroke.
‘There are many issues for people after a stroke including getting back to a good quality of life that is worth living. This event will focus on three areas that are really important to help those living with stroke get their lives back on track. This event is for anyone with an interest in life after stroke and keen to improve services and care post stroke and rehabilitation.’
SAFE Director General, Arlene Wilkie
If you missed our other events in the Live After Stroke Series, you can now catch up on demand at elasf.org
Oct 25, 2022
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our first face-to-face conference on Life After Stroke on 10 March 2023 in Barcelona.
The European Life After Stroke Forum was created to bring together researchers, scientists, medical professionals, health policymakers, advocacy, or support groups, stroke survivors and their carers to share knowledge and network.
Due to COVID-19, our original planned conference had to be postponed. In its place we held a series of successful Life After Stroke Series of webinars in 2021 / 2022 to maintain moment and interest in this very important area of life after stroke.
‘There are few opportunities regarding conferences, workshops, and shared networking events for advocates and researchers in the life after stroke area of care. Also, there is limited evidence and research data in longer term management and care and stroke survivors often feel abandoned after rehabilitation stops. This conference with stimulate debate and ultimately improve life after stroke.’
Avril Drummond, Chair, European Life After Stroke Forum
How to register, more details about the programme and how to submit abstracts will be available from 10 November.
Sign up to our enewsletter and find out more about the European Life After Stroke Forum at www.elasf.org
Feedback from our Life After Stroke Series 2021/ 2022 online events
‘Thank you @StrokeEurope for organising such a great event. A morning of interesting insights into stroke care and the additional challenges caused by Covid. A particular highlight was the incredibly inspirational talk from Alexia about her lived experience.’
‘Thank you to all the speakers – such a valuable webinar. Really useful for my work with people living with stroke.’
‘These webinars are really useful and informative for everyone from stroke expert to stroke survivor, family or caregiver, and even after this webinar ends, it will be a good online content for sharing.’
‘Congrats to SAFE TEAM for organising this excellent webinar.’
‘Thank you for the excellent presentations including stroke survivor’s stories/experiences. I will definitely be aiming to embed some of these thoughts into my practise to empower my patients to be equipped for self-management of their condition in order to give them quality of life as stroke survivors.’
‘Thank you so much for such an interesting presentation – it was particularly interesting to hear from ‘expert witnesses’ and real-life experience of challenges and coping strategies.’
