Gregory W. Albers, MD / S. Claiborne “Clay” Johnston, MD, PhD - Mastering the Use of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Preventing Recurrent Stroke: How Well Do Your Current Strategies Match With the Experts?

Go online to PeerView.com/SPE860 to view the activity, download slides and practice aids, and complete the post-test to earn credit. The latest stroke statistics estimate that about 800,000 individuals in the United States experience a stroke each year. Furthermore, about 20% of all strokes are recurrent, and many of these patients previously experienced a minor stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Recurrence is greatest within the first 24 to 48 hours, but the risk remains elevated for months, even years, after the initial event. The American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) recently updated their guidelines for stroke prevention to include expanded and detailed recommendations for the use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), the combination of aspirin and clopidogrel or ticagrelor, to further reduce the risk of stroke. These guidelines also include specific recommendations for individuals with minor acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or a TIA. In this activity based on a recent satellite symposium in New Orleans, leading experts on stroke management highlight the current guideline recommendations and discuss the latest perspectives on DAPT before transitioning to patient case scenarios where each expert demonstrates how these advances can be translated into clinical practice to improve outcomes and reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, while accounting for bleeding risks, antiplatelet resistance, and patient adherence. Upon completion of this CE activity, participants will be able to: Identify individuals with AIS or TIA who are appropriate candidates for treatment with antiplatelet therapy to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, Assess the benefits and risks of using P2Y12 inhibitors with aspirin as DAPT for the prevention of recurrent stroke, Apply DAPT with P2Y12 inhibitors in appropriate patients following symptom onset to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke, Employ patient-centered communication strategies to facilitate adherence to DAPT with P2Y12 inhibitors in appropriate patients with AIS or TIA to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke.