Abstract Background and aims The acute phase of ischemic stroke is associated with a marked decline in quality of life (QoL), yet early therapeutic strategies mainly target neurological deficits rather than patient-reported outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate whether early administration of Xavron improves short-term QoL in acute ischemic stroke. Methods In this randomized comparative study, 40 patients (mean age 65.3 ± 1.9 years) within 72 hours of ischemic stroke and moderate neurological deficit (NIHSS 5–15) were assigned to two groups (n=20 each). The intervention group received standard therapy plus Xavron (500 mg intravenously twice daily for 5 days followed by oral administration until day 21). The control group received standard therapy plus placebo. QoL was assessed on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 using EQ-5D-5L (primary endpoint: change in EQ-5D index at day 21), SF-36 (PCS, MCS), and VAS. Results By day 21, the EQ-5D index increased from 0.42 ± 0.08 to 0.62 ± 0.10 in the intervention group (p0.01), while the control group showed a smaller, non-significant change (0.43 ± 0.07 to 0.51 ± 0.09). Improvements were most pronounced in anxiety/depression and usual activities domains. SF-36 physical and mental components increased by 18% (p0.05) and 22% (p0.01), compared with 7% and 5% in controls. VAS improved from 38 ± 5 to 65 ± 7 (p0.001) versus 37 ± 6 to 48 ± 6 (p0.05), with significant between-group differences (p0.01). Conclusions Early Xavron therapy was associated with greater short-term improvements in QoL compared with standard treatment alone. Conflict of interest
Asema Bijanova (Fri,) studied this question.