Identifying risk factors that predict future stroke risk

Markers of persistent vascular risk after optimal treatment of hypertension: 5-year assessments of the OXVASC-Phys TIA/stroke cohort  

Dr Alastair Webb and his colleagues at the University of Oxford are looking for ways to prevent people who have had strokes experiencing another one. To do so, they are trying to identify factors which could predict the likelihood of another stroke occurring. In this project, Dr Webb will study a group of patients who had a 'mini' or minor stroke five years ago, who took part in the Oxford Vascular Study. During that study, the group completed a number of physiological tests before receiving intensive home blood pressure monitoring and treatment. During this study, the patients will have a series of follow-up tests, including brain scans, measures of artery stiffness and mental arithmetic. By doing so, Dr Webb wants to identify factors that could predict abnormal blood vessel development, blood vessel brain injury and recurrent strokes, which can all still occur despite treatment of high blood pressure. These factors might include variability in blood pressure or abnormalities in blood vessel structure. This research could reveal new ways of identifying those at risk of repeated stroke and chronic vascular disease.