Stroke screening

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Wednesday February 16 6:53 PM ET

High-risk patients benefit from stroke screening

NEW ORLEANS, Feb 16 (Reuters Health) -- Individuals over age 60, smokers, and those who have heart disease or high blood cholesterol may benefit from a screening test that assesses stroke risk.

The test is based on Doppler ultrasound screening to examine the thickness of the carotid artery. There are two carotid arteries, one on either side at the front of the neck. Arterial disease can cause thickening of the lining of these arteries, and such thickening is linked to stroke risk. Using this painless, noninvasive technique, doctors can identify patients at risk.

Dr. Adnan I. Qureshi of the State University of New York at Buffalo and colleagues offered carotid artery Doppler ultrasound to anyone who wanted it as part of a community health screening program conducted in western New York State. A total of 1,331 people volunteered. None had a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack (''mini-strokes'') or carotid artery surgery. The average age of those screened was 66 years.

In the group studied, 18% were found to have symptomless, significant narrowing (or stenosis) of their carotid artery, Qureshi reported recently at the 25th International Stroke Conference of the American Stroke Association.

The researchers also identified specific risk factors associated with carotid stenosis, including age greater than 60, a current history of smoking, a history of coronary artery disease, and high blood cholesterol levels.

``We thought that population screening would not be cost effective,'' Qureshi told Reuters Health, but the study findings suggest that screening such high-risk individuals would, in fact, reduce overall health costs by helping to prevent stroke.