Cardiac Rehabilitation for transient ischaemic Attack and Mild Stroke

The CRAMS randomised controlled trial

One in three strokes in Australia are repeat events.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a well-established and widely available secondary prevention program that reduces disease risk and death from heart disease, and it could help prevent repeat strokes as both share similar risk factors. However, our research has found that less than 2% of Australian cardiac rehabilitation programs include people with stroke.

The University of Canberra (UC) will partner with Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital, supported by Stroke Foundation and Heart Foundation, to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week integrated (TIA, mild stroke, heart disease) traditional cardiac rehabilitation program (cardiovascular rehabilitation) at the UC Health Clinics.

Together we will recruit 140 Canberrans who have had a TIA or mild stroke over 2 years. These study participants will be randomly allocated to the cardiovascular rehabilitation program or a 6-month wait-list group.

We will then measure physical fitness, hospital admissions, blood pressure and other risk factors for stroke to determine the effectiveness of the program, as well as costs.

Feedback from participants and health professionals will also be sought to guide the implementation of this novel program in other health services.

Contact:

A/Prof Nicole Freene, phone 02 6201 5550 or email nicole.freene@canberra.edu.au

Participant information sheet (PDF 209 KB)