ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026OT141 PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF AN ADAPTED PREHOSPITAL STROKE SCALE TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF POSTERIOR CIRCULATION STROKE - THE APSS+ STUDY

Abstract Background and aims Posterior circulation strokes are often detected late and have a lower chance to receive acute treatments such as thrombolysis. Commonly used prehospital stroke scores do not adequately cover cerebrovascular accidents of the posterior circulation. Methods Does the introduction of an adapted and extended prehospital stroke score lead to improvement of diagnosis and management of posterior circulation strokes? Results The APPS+ study will test if the extension of the conventional APSS (Austrian Prehospital Stroke Scale), which is already used by emergency services in Lower Austria, with two additional items assessing symptoms of the posterior circulation (balance and double vision), will improve accuracy of prehospital diagnosis and will lead to faster and more efficient acute treatment. In order to assess the diagnostic and therapeutic advantage of the extended APSS+ over the conventional scale a prospective time series comparison (before and after the introduction of the APSS+) will be conducted. Data covering stroke diagnosis, clinical descriptors, treatment and outcome will be analysed. Conclusions Data covering stroke diagnosis, clinical descriptors, treatment inlcuding iv-thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy, disabilty (mRS) and mortality at three months will be analysed. Conflict of interest