From the Research
The RELAXED trial for stroke is an observational study designed to investigate the optimal timing to start administration of rivaroxaban for prevention of recurrence in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients in the acute phase of cardioembolic stroke, as described in the study by 1. This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban with regard to infarct size, timing of initiation of rivaroxaban medication, and other patient characteristics. The primary efficacy endpoint is recurrent ischemic stroke, and the primary safety endpoint is major bleeding during the observational period of 3 months after stroke onset. Some key points to consider in the context of the RELAXED trial include:
- The study will enroll 2000 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in the territory of the middle cerebral artery and NVAF, who will receive rivaroxaban within 30 days of the index stroke for secondary prevention of stroke, as noted in the study by 1.
- The infarct size within 48 hours after stroke onset will be measured by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
- The optimal timing to start treatment with rivaroxaban during the acute stage of ischemic stroke will be determined by analysis of the correlation between primary endpoints and the size of cerebral infarct. It's worth noting that other studies, such as the one by 2, have explored the use of exercise or relaxation in stroke patients, but the RELAXED trial specifically focuses on the use of rivaroxaban in NVAF patients. Additionally, the study by 3 investigated the use of modified-Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as a treatment for cognitive recovery in patients with minor stroke, but this is not directly related to the RELAXED trial. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, provides the most relevant information for the RELAXED trial, and its findings should be prioritized when considering the optimal approach for stroke patients.