Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a prevalent cause of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in young patients. Its role as a cause of cerebrovascular events in the older population is more controversial because of other competing causes are more frequent in the elderly. Recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that PFO closure is associated with a 59% relative risk reduction in the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke. As such, the number of PFO closure procedures are expected to increase substantially in the upcoming years. Real world data (RWD) informing on the medical management, the risk of stroke recurrence, incident atrial fibrillation, and other outcomes in stroke patients with PFO, with and without PFO closure, will become crucial for understanding how results from RCTs are translated into clinical practice globally. The IMPROVE (International Multicenter Patent foRamen OVale \& strokE) Registry is an observational, multicenter, international registry of men and women with an ischemic stroke or TIA. The aim is to enroll 8,800 patient-years at ≥50 sites in ≥20 countries. The IMPROVE Registry will provide important information about the management and related outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke or TIA and PFO throughout different regions of the world and across a wide spectrum of healthcare systems.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
3,730
PFO closure after stroke or transient ischemic attack
Heart & Brain Lab, Western University
London, Ontario, Canada
Recurrent stroke
Recurrent hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke
Time frame: Duration of follow-up (minimum of 3 months)
Incident atrial fibrillation
New diagnosis of atrial fibrillation after the index date
Time frame: Duration of follow-up (minimum of 3 months)
Proportion of patients undergoing PFO closure
Proportion of patients undergoing PFO closure
Time frame: Within 12 months of the index diagnosis of PFO after the stroke or transient ischemic attack
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