*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 
1991.12.09 :  AHCPR Study -- Stroke Prevention

Contact: Bob Isquith (301) 227-8364
December 9, 1991

     HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced that
the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research is awarding a
five-year, $5.6 million contract to Duke University Medical
Center in Durham, N.C., to improve methods of preventing strokes
in people who are at high risk or have had transient ischemic
attacks, or "minor strokes."
     The contract is part of AHCPR's broad program of research
measuring the effectiveness of alternative therapies in treating
medical conditions.
     "Medical effectiveness research is crucially important to
our efforts to improve quality of care while at the same time
making medical care as cost effective as possible," Secretary
Sullivan said.  "The contract we are announcing today is part of
a wide-scale effort by the public and private sectors together to
apply our medical knowledge and skills in the ways that are
proven most effective."
     J. Jarrett Clinton, M.D. AHCPR administrator, said, "Stroke
is the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing
more than 150,000 Americans each year and incapacitating another
half a million.  More than $1 billion is spent annually on
recovery, rehabilitation and vocational disability for survivors
of stroke."
     Under the contract, a new patient outcomes research team led
by David Matchar, M.D., of Duke will identify variations in the
diagnosis, treatment and management of cerebrovascular disease--
the main cause of stroke.  The investigators will analyze the
various practices to determine which are the most effective in
reducing deaths, paralysis, complications and hospital
readmissions.  The researchers will also try to determine which
practices best meet patients' individual expectations, values and
preferences.
     "This analysis can be an important step in reducing the
devastating effects of stroke," said HHS Assistant Secretary for
Health James O. Mason, M.D., who heads the Public Health Service.
     Duke University is the latest medical facility chosen by
AHCPR, a new agency of the Public Health Service, to address the
nation's critical need for improved prevention, diagnosis,
treatment and management of health problems.
     Other patient outcomes research teams funded by AHCPR are
determining the most effective ways of treating heart attack,
chronic ischemic heart disease, prostate disease, cataracts, low
back pain, gall bladder disease, pneumonia and adult onset
diabetes, as well as examining alternative methods of childbirth,
hip fracture repair and total knee replacement.

                                ###