Remote ischemic conditioning for the prevention of stroke-associated pneumonia (RICA-2): protocol for a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled phase III trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is one of the most common complications in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, affecting 8.5% to nearly 30% of cases and significantly impacting both mortality and long-term survival. As it is closely related to worse outcome, exploring effective preventive strategies, such as remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), is essential for reducing SAP incidence and improving patient outcomes. This study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of RIC for preventing SAP in patients with ischemic stroke within 24 h of symptom onset.

Methods and design

RICA-2 is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, phase III clinical trial in China. This study will enroll an estimated 1650 patients aged ≥ 18 years within 24 h after AI

SUBMITTER: Jia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12532863 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature