Assessing Functional Recovery in Ischemic Stroke: An Observational Study of Dual vs. Single Antiplatelet Therapy in...

In an aging population, stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. More than 80% of stroke cases in the elderly are ischemic strokes. Stroke is the sixth most common cause of disability globally and the second most common cause after ischemic heart disease (IHD). This study aimed to assess the effects of aspirin alone (monotherapy) and clopidogrel and aspirin (combination treatment) on individuals with acute ischemic stroke.

This is a Prospective, non-randomized, and observational study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital with 116 acute ischemic stroke patients from January 2023 to September 2024. Clopidogrel at an initial dose of 300 mg, followed by 75 mg per day for 90 days, plus aspirin at a dose of 75 mg per day for the first 21 days) or aspirin (75 mg per day for 90 days) group.

In our study, the majority of patients were more than 60 years, and the least were less than 40 years in both the groups. Predominant were male than female in both the groups. The mRS 3-6 occurred in three patients in the DAPT group and three patients in the monotherapy group, showing no statistically significant difference. Poor quality of life at 90 days occurred in one patient in the clopidogrel aspirin group and in two in the aspirin group (p = 0.081).

In this observational study, the patients with acute Ischemic Stroke, given treatment with clopidogrel and aspirin, provided significantly better functional outcomes and disability scores in the next 90 days than aspirin alone. However, these findings should be interpreted within the context of an observational design and limited follow-up.