The effectiveness and safety of Mexidol in patients of different age groups in the acute and early recovery periods of the hemisphere ischemic stroke (the results of subanarized a randomized double blind multicenter placebo-controlled in parallel groups of the study of epic)

L.V. STAKHOVSKAYA¹, E.A. MKHITARYAN², O.N. TKACHEV^1,2, T.M. OSTROUMOVA³, O.D. OSTROUMOVA^3.4

¹N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
²Russian Gerontology Research and Clinical Center of N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
³I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia;
⁴Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia

Place of publication:
S.S. KORSAKOV JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY, 2020, Vol. 120, No. 8, Issue 2

Abstract:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term sequential therapy with Mexidol in patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke in the acute and early recovery periods across different age groups.

Material and methods. The study is a secondary analysis by age groups among 150 patients who participated in the randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled, parallel-group EPICA study. The entire study sample (62 men and 88 women) was divided into subgroups by age: under 60 years, 60-75 years, 76-90 years. Also, all study participants were divided into 2 populations: ITT (Intent to treat population, patients who received at least one dose of the study drug/placebo) and PP (Per protocol population, patients who received the drug in accordance with the study protocol). The results were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at the end of the treatment course, the Barthel Index, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the European Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Results. The efficacy of Mexidol across all scales used did not differ depending on age. At the end of therapy, the average mRS score was lower in patients aged 76–90 years (in both populations) compared to placebo (p

Conclusion. The use of Mexidol is recommended in the acute and early recovery periods of ischemic stroke in all age groups, including patients with diabetes.

Key words: ischemic stroke, mexidol, ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate, efficacy and safety, ischemic stroke, acute period, early recovery period, EPIC.