Stroke survivors see quality of life improvement with minocycline

Among patients who sustained ischaemic stroke, treatment with minocycline appears to improve quality of life (QoL), according to a study.

Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data from the EMPHASIS trial. The trial included 1,724 adults who were enrolled within 72 h of acute ischaemic stroke onset, had a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 4–25, and had a prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of 1 or less. These participants were randomly assigned to receive minocycline or placebo in addition to standard care.

Health-related QoL (HRQoL) was evaluated using the EuroQol five-dimension three-level questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) at 90 days. The EQ-5D-3L utility score was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included the EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), a favourable health state defined as EQ-5D-3L utility score ≥0.75, and EQ-5D-3L domain responses.

A total of 1,697 participants were included in the final analyses. In multivariable analysis, the minocycline group had higher EQ-5D-3L utility score at 90 days compared with the placebo group (p=0.049).

The proportion of patients achieving a favourable health state was also higher in the minocycline group than in the placebo group (73.4 percent vs 68.9 percent; risk ratio, 1.07, 95 percent confidence interval, 1.003–1.13; p=0.039). Minocycline-treated participants showed greater improvements in mobility (p=0.043), self-care (p=0.030), and usual activities (p=0.031). EQ-VAS was similar between the minocycline and placebo groups (p=0.420).

The findings support further evaluation of minocycline as adjunctive therapy in stroke patients.