Effect of Standard vs Intensive Blood Pressure Control on the Risk of Recurrent Stroke (2024)

Key Points

Question What is the optimum blood pressure target in secondary stroke prevention?

Findings In this randomized clinical trial that included 1263 patients with a history of stroke, intensive blood pressure control to less than 120/80 mm Hg tended to reduce stroke recurrence compared with standard blood pressure control (<140/90 mm Hg). When this finding was pooled with the results of prior trials of intensive blood pressure control for secondary stroke prevention in an updated meta-analysis, intensive blood pressure treatment significantly reduced stroke recurrence by 22%.

Meaning Intensive blood pressure control to less than 130/80 mm Hg is recommended for secondary stroke prevention.

Importance The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) demonstrated that a systolic blood pressure (BP) target less than 120 mm Hg was superior to less than 140 mm Hg for preventing vascular events. This trial excluded patients with prior stroke; therefore, the ideal BP target for secondary stroke prevention remains unknown.

Objective To assess whether intensive BP control would achieve fewer recurrent strokes vs standard BP control.

Design, Setting, and Participants Randomized clinical trial (RCT) of standard vs intensive BP control in an intent-to-treat population of patients who had a history of stroke. Patients were enrolled between October 20, 2010, and December 7, 2016. For an updated meta-analysis, PubMed and the Cochrane Central Library database were searched through September 30, 2018, using the Medical Subject Headings and relevant search terms for cerebrovascular disease and for intensive BP lowering. This was a multicenter trial that included 140 hospitals in Japan; 1514 patients who had a history of stroke within the previous 3 years were approached, but 234 refused to give informed consent.

Interventions In total, 1280 patients were randomized 1:1 to BP control to less than 140/90 mm Hg (standard treatment) (n = 640) or to less than 120/80 mm Hg (intensive treatment) (n = 640). However, 17 patients never received intervention; therefore, 1263 patients assigned to standard treatment (n = 630) or intensive treatment (n = 633) were analyzed.

Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was stroke recurrence.

Results The trial was stopped early. Among 1263 analyzed patients (mean [SD] age, 67.2 [8.8] years; 69.4% male), 1257 of 1263 (99.5%) completed a mean (SD) of 3.9 (1.5) years of follow-up. The mean BP at baseline was 145.4/83.6 mm Hg. Throughout the overall follow-up period, the mean BP was 133.2/77.7 (95% CI, 132.5-133.8/77.1-78.4) mm Hg in the standard group and 126.7/77.4 (95% CI, 125.9-127.2/73.8-75.0) mm Hg in the intensive group. Ninety-one first recurrent strokes occurred. Nonsignificant rate reductions were seen for recurrent stroke in the intensive group compared with the standard group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.49-1.11; P = .15). When this finding was pooled in 3 previous relevant RCTs in a meta-analysis, the risk ratio favored intensive BP control (relative risk, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96; P = .02; absolute risk difference, −1.5%; 95% CI, −2.6% to −0.4%; number needed to treat, 67; 95% CI, 39-250).

Conclusions and Relevance Intensive BP lowering tended to reduce stroke recurrence. The updated meta-analysis supports a target BP less than 130/80 mm Hg in secondary stroke prevention.

Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01198496

In 2010, the absolute number of people with a first stroke in the world was 16.9 million, and the number with stroke-related deaths was 5.9 million.¹ Therefore, prevention of primary and secondary stroke is a priority. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the most relevant and prevalent risk factor for stroke. Reduction in BP is the most effective intervention to prevent both primary and secondary strokes.^2-7 In clinical trials for primary prevention of cardiovascular events, including stroke, the lower the better seems acceptable for stroke prevention in hypertensive patients, with less than 115 mm Hg suggested as the optimum target level of systolic BP.⁸ After a stroke, lowering BP in the chronic stage reduced the rates of recurrent stroke among both hypertensive and nonhypertensive patients in the Perindopril Protection Against Recurrent Stroke Study (PROGRESS).⁴ A post hoc analysis of the PROGRESS⁹ suggested that the optimum target level of systolic BP for the prevention of recurrent stroke is less than 120 mm Hg. In the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) randomized trial,¹⁰ the BP target was first evaluated in patients with recent stroke. The trial randomly assigned those with lacunar stroke to a systolic BP target of 130 to 149 mm Hg or less than 130 mm Hg, and the authors showed that the use of a systolic BP target less than 130 mm Hg is likely to be beneficial, especially for the prevention of hemorrhagic stroke. A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that strict and aggressive control of BP with achieved mean systolic and diastolic BP levels less than 130 mm Hg and less than 85 mm Hg, respectively, seemed to be beneficial for secondary prevention.⁷ In primary prevention, the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT)¹¹ proved the benefit of aggressive BP control, demonstrating that targeting a systolic BP less than 120 mm Hg resulted in lower rates of major cardiovascular events compared with less than 140 mm Hg. Although a pooled analysis of 3 studies^12-14 (3632 participants) comparing different systolic BP targets suggested that intensive BP lowering reduced the rate of recurrent stroke, no clinical trials to date have tested the effect of such aggressive BP lowering for secondary stroke prevention. In the Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome (RESPECT) Study, we herein tested the hypothesis that targeting intensive BP lowering of systolic and diastolic blood BP less than 120 mm Hg and less than 80 mm Hg, respectively, reduces the rate of stroke recurrence compared with a standard BP-lowering regimen.

The RESPECT Study was a prospective, multicenter, open, masked–end point, randomized clinical trial (RCT) that included 140 hospitals in Japan between October 20, 2010, and December 7, 2016. In total, 1514 patients who had a history of stroke within the previous 3 years were approached, but 234 refused to give informed consent. Eligible participants had the following characteristics: age 50 to 85 years, independent ambulation, systolic BP of 130 to 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 80 to 110 mm Hg on a regimen of 0 to 3 antihypertensive medications, and a history of stroke within the previous 3 years (evidence of an acute disturbance of focal neurological functions, with symptoms lasting more than 24 hours, and symptomatic ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography). Patients in whom stroke onset occurred 1 month or less previously were excluded. Participation required written informed consent, and approval was provided by all local ethics committees for human research. The trial protocol and statistical analysis plan, including clinical sites and numbers of participants, are available in Supplement 1. This study followed the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) reporting guidelines.

In total, 1280 patients were randomized 1:1 to 2 BP control groups with targets of either less than 140/90 mm Hg (the standard treatment group [n = 640]) or less than 120/80 mm Hg (the intensive treatment group [n = 640]) according to a parallel design. However, 17 patients never received intervention; therefore, 1263 patients assigned to standard treatment (n = 630) or intensive treatment (n = 633) were analyzed. Randomization was conducted through a password-protected, internet-based system according to a computer-generated random sequence, with patients stratified by age (<70 vs ≥70 years), presence of diabetes, chronic kidney disease, history of myocardial infarction (MI), and history of atrial fibrillation.

The intensive treatment group received stepwise multidrug therapy with a BP target less than 120/80 mm Hg, and the standard treatment group received the same stepwise therapy with BP targets less than 140/90 mm Hg or less than 130/80 mm Hg for patients who have diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or a history of MI. The study used a combination drug of losartan potassium or other angiotensin II receptor blockers and hydrochlorothiazide, amlodipine besylate, and spironolactone to control BP. To achieve the target BP, patients received stepwise treatments orally every 4 weeks for 24 weeks at maximum during the titration period (trial protocol in Supplement 1).

The primary end point was recurrent stroke, including ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. Recurrent stroke was clinically defined as a focal neurological deficit persisting for longer than 24 hours, as confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. Stroke was deemed fatal if death occurred within 30 days. Secondary end points included the following: reductions in ischemic stroke, subtype of ischemic stroke (including atherothrombotic infarction, cardioembolic infarction, lacunar infarction, or infarction due to other and unknown etiology), intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack, acute MI defined by standard criteria (compatible clinical history with changes on electrocardiogram or in cardiac enzyme concentration), composite cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke, and nonfatal MI), all-cause death, and the composite of all-cause death, nonfatal stroke, and nonfatal MI. Cardiovascular death was defined as sudden death, fatal stroke, fatal MI, fatal congestive heart failure, or death attributed to other cardiovascular disease. All reported efficacy outcomes were confirmed by a central adjudication committee that was masked to treatment assignment. Serious adverse events were defined as those that were fatal or life threatening, that resulted in clinically significant or persistent disability, that required hospitalization, or that were judged as a significant hazard or harm that required medical or surgical interventions.

Our original plan was to recruit 5000 patients. In 2014, challenges in achieving recruitment targets prompted us to review the accumulated masked study data. In consideration of interim masked trial data showing an annual stroke recurrence rate of 4.6%, we revised our sample size to 2000 patients; we estimated that this sample size would provide 80% power (at α = .05) to detect a minimum relative reduction of 30% in the intensive treatment group, on the assumption that the cumulative recurrence rate of stroke would be 15.6% in the standard group during approximately 3.5 years of follow-up and a dropout rate of 10%.

In accordance with the intent-to-treat principle, all patients except for those who immediately withdrew their consent and those without any information after randomization were included in the analysis. Cumulative incidence was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using a log-rank test between randomized groups. Incidences of outcomes were also estimated using a person-year approach. The effects of strict BP control on outcomes were calculated using univariable Cox proportional hazards models and are reported as hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. If multiple events of the same type occurred, the time to event was calculated as the time to first events. The effects of randomized treatment on BP during the overall follow-up period were estimated using linear mixed models. All analyses were based on the intent-to-treat principle and were performed with SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc) or R (version 3.4.1; The R Foundation for Statistical Computing). The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01198496). The threshold of statistical significance was set at 2-sided P < .05.

We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Central Library database for RCTs that compared the effects of BP treatment using 2 different targets in patients with prior cerebrovascular disease through September 30, 2018. We used the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and relevant search terms for cerebrovascular disease (cerebrovascular disorders [MeSH] and all spellings of stroke, cerebral infarction, brain infarction, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage, brain hemorrhage, hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and cerebral ischemia) and the MeSH and relevant search terms for intensive BP lowering (antihypertensive agents [MeSH] and all spellings of target BP, intensive BP, strict BP, and tight BP). The search was limited to RCTs. The literature search, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by 2 authors (H.A. and T.M.) using a standardized approach. All completed RCTs that compared more vs less intensive BP targets with pharmacological BP-lowering agents among patients with prior cerebrovascular disease were eligible for inclusion. Published reports were obtained for each trial, and standard information was extracted into a spreadsheet. The outcome for the meta-analysis was recurrent stroke, including ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. For each trial, we calculated the relative risk and its variance according to the principle of intent to treat. Summary estimates of the effects and 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effects model with inverse-variance weighting. The percentage of variability across studies attributable to heterogeneity beyond chance was estimated using the I² statistic. Meta-analysis was performed using a software program (Stata, version 15; StataCorp LP).

The independent data and safety monitoring committee recommended continuation of research at the first interim analysis on August 14, 2016; however, the steering committee stopped enrollment on December 31, 2016, before reaching the planned sample size of 2000 because of slow recruitment and funding cessation. In total, 1280 patients were randomized, and 17 (1.3%) were excluded from the randomized population owing to protocol violation, unmet inclusion criteria, or immediate withdrawal of consent (Figure 1); the remaining 1263 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.2 [8.8] years; 69.4% male) were enrolled in the intent-to-treat analysis. A total of 1263 participants were enrolled, including 1074 with ischemic stroke and 189 with intracerebral hemorrhage as the qualifying event, and 1257 of 1273 (99.5%) were followed up for a mean (SD) of 3.9 (1.5) years (range, 0-5.5 years) (Table 1). The mean BP at baseline was 145.4/83.6 mm Hg. Baseline characteristics did not differ substantially between the treatment groups. The median time from qualifying stroke to randomization was 4.6 months (interquartile range, 1.7-13.0 months). The frequency of permanent discontinuation of BP-lowering therapy was similar between the randomized groups (15 of 630 [2.4%] in the standard treatment group vs 12 of 633 [1.9%] in the intensive treatment group). Among 1263 patients in the cohort, 6 patients (0.5%) were lost to follow-up, and an additional 87 of 1257 patients (6.9%) withdrew their consent and ended their follow-up early.

Two treatments resulted in a rapid and sustained between-group difference in systolic and diastolic BP (eFigure 1 in Supplement 2). At 1 year of follow-up, the achieved BP was 132.0/77.5 (95% CI, 130.9-133.0/76.6-78.3) mm Hg in the standard target group and 123.7/72.8 (95% CI, 122.6-124.8/72.0-73.7) mm Hg in the intensive target group, for a mean difference of 8.3 mm Hg in systolic BP. Target BP levels were achieved by 61.7% (374 of 606) in the standard group and 32.0% (197 of 615) in the intensive group. Throughout the overall follow-up period, the mean BP was 133.2/77.7 (95% CI, 132.5-133.8/77.1-78.4) mm Hg in the standard group and 126.7/74.4 (95% CI, 125.9-127.2/73.8-75.0) mm Hg in the intensive group, for a mean difference of 6.5/3.3 (95% CI, 5.7-7.5/2.5-4.2) mm Hg. The mean number of antihypertensive drugs was 1.4 at baseline. At 1 year, patients in the intensive treatment group had received more antihypertensive drugs than those in the standard treatment group, and the mean numbers of antihypertensive drugs were 1.6 and 2.8 during the overall follow-up period in the standard and intensive groups, respectively. The relative distribution of antihypertensive classes used was almost similar in the 2 groups, although the use of diuretics was greater in the intensive treatment group.

The primary outcome was stroke recurrence. During the follow-up period, 91 first recurrent strokes occurred. Of these, 79 (86.8%) were ischemic strokes, and 12 (13.2%) were intracerebral hemorrhages. The annualized rate of recurrent stroke in the standard treatment group was 2.26% compared with 1.65% in the intensive treatment group (Table 2), with an HR of 0.73; 95% CI, 0.49-1.11 (P = .15). Although the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke seemed to separate over time between the randomized groups, the difference was not statistically significant (Figure 2). There was no heterogeneity in treatment effect on the primary outcome in any of the clinical subgroups (eFigure 2 in Supplement 2).

With regard to secondary end points, the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage (0.04% per patient-year) was reduced in the intensive treatment group compared with that in the standard group (0.46% per patient-year) (HR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.01-0.70; P = .02). However, the rates of ischemic stroke (1.60% per patient-year in the intensive group vs 1.76% per patient-year in the standard group), subtypes of ischemic stroke, and mortality were similar (Table 2).

Serious adverse events were similar between the 2 groups (eTable in Supplement 2). Adverse events related to hypotension, such as syncope and dizziness, were also infrequent and similar between the groups. The most frequent serious adverse event was malignant neoplasm in both groups (5.08% in the standard treatment group and 3.63% in the intensive treatment group).

Three RCTs (the SPS3 trial,¹⁰ the Prevention After Stroke–Blood Pressure [PAST-BP] trial,¹³ and the Prevention of Decline in Cognition After Stroke Trial [PODCAST]¹⁴) investigated the effects of intensive BP lowering on recurrent stroke (cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage for the SPS3 trial¹⁰ and any stroke for the others) among patients with prior cerebrovascular disease (target systolic BP <125 mm Hg or <130 mm Hg). A meta-analysis of the 3 prior trials showed that no statistically significant reduction in recurrent stroke was seen in intensive BP lowering than in control treatment (relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.63-1.00; P = .05) (Figure 3). When an updated meta-analysis was conducted for the present trial with the 3 prior trials of intensive BP treatment for secondary prevention of stroke, the pooled risk ratio of this study and that of the 3 prior trials of intensive BP lowering for secondary stroke prevention favored intensive BP control (relative risk, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64-0.96; P = .02), with no evidence of heterogeneity (I² = 0%) (Figure 3). When the absolute risk difference was pooled for all 4 trials, the estimated risk difference was −1.5% (95% CI, −2.6% to −0.4%), and the estimated number needed to treat to avoid 1 recurrent stroke was 67 (95% CI, 39-250). In a meta-analysis performed for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke separately, the pooled risk ratio favored intensive BP control only for hemorrhagic stroke (relative risk, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.90) and not for ischemic stroke (relative risk, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.71-1.08) (eFigure 3 in Supplement 2).

Among adults with a history of stroke, the RESPECT Study showed that lowering BP to a target goal less than 120/80 mm Hg compared with the standard goal of less than 140/90 mm Hg resulted in nonsignificant reductions in all strokes. These effects were consistent across major subgroups, including patients 70 years or older and patients with diabetes. When combined in a meta-analysis of 3 other intensive BP treatment trials, there was a significant reduction in stroke recurrence in patients randomized to intensive BP treatment.

Blood pressure lowering has been strongly recommended for secondary prevention of chronic management after stroke since the results of the PROGRESS⁴ were published, but the optimum BP level and significance of intensive BP lowering needed to be examined. The SPS3 trial¹⁰ is the only large-scale study to date that has examined the effect of intensive BP lowering in stroke survivors. In patients with lacunar infarction, the researchers showed that within 180 days (median, 62 days) intensive BP lowering to a target less than 130 mm Hg (mean, 127 mm Hg) resulted in a nonsignificant reduction in all strokes (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.64-1.03) and a significant reduction in intracerebral hemorrhages (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.95) compared with standard BP lowering to a target of 130 to 149 mm Hg. Although the target goal of BP in the RESPECT Study was 120 mm Hg, the results are in line with those of the SPS3 trial,¹⁰ and our meta-analysis showed that intensive BP lowering is more beneficial for the prevention of recurrent stroke, especially intracerebral hemorrhage. Furthermore, risk reduction and BP difference may be consistent across trials: risk reduction and systolic BP difference, respectively, were 0.72 and 9.0 mm Hg in the PROGRESS,⁴ 0.81 and 11.0 mm Hg in the SPS3 trial,¹⁰ 0.90 and 4.0 mm Hg in the Prevention Regimen for Effectively Avoiding Second Strokes (PRoFESS) trial,¹⁵ 0.73 and 6.5 mm Hg in the RESPECT Study, and 0.73 and 7.0 mm Hg in a systematic review of all BP-lowering trials.¹⁶ Another RCT testing the effect of 3 different BP targets (135 to <145, 125 to <135, and <125 mm Hg) on stroke recurrence is ongoing.¹⁷

The post hoc analysis of the PROGRESS⁹ showed that lower BP is better and demonstrated that the target systolic BP level should be less than 120 mm Hg. Our RESPECT Study supported that the proposed target level of BP in the PROGRESS post hoc analysis is valid for stroke prevention. However, the consequences of BP lowering were more evident for intracerebral hemorrhage than for cerebral infarction. Asian epidemiological data¹⁸ also have shown that the association between BP and hemorrhagic stroke is greater than that between BP and ischemic stroke. In the PROGRESS,⁹ the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage was 0.04% per patient-year in patients with achieved a systolic BP of less than 120 mm Hg, which is consistent with the rate in the intensive treatment group of the present study (0.04% per patient-year). In the standard treatment group of the RESPECT Study and the group with achieved BP of 130 to 139 mm Hg in the PROGRESS,⁹ the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage was also similar (0.10% vs 0.10% per patient-year). In contrast, the benefit of intensive BP lowering for the prevention of recurrent cerebral infarction is unclear compared with standard treatment. In the post hoc analysis of the PROGRESS,⁹ the risk of cerebral infarction was similar between the achieved BP levels of 130 to 139 mm Hg and less than 130 mm Hg. In the SPS3 trial,¹⁰ the rate of ischemic stroke was similar between the standard and intensive treatment groups (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66-1.09). Our results also showed that the rate of cerebral infarction was similar between the standard and intensive treatment groups (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.59-1.42). These results suggested that intensive BP lowering did not show clear benefit in preventing recurrent ischemic stroke, but this point needs further investigation.

The RESPECT Study had several limitations. First, the trial did not have sufficient power to draw statistical significance for all strokes, which was the primary end point. However, our meta-analysis that combined the results of 3 other trials found a significant benefit of intensive BP lowering compared with standard treatment for stroke recurrence. Second, the assignment of either treatment group herein was not masked, which potentially introduced bias. However, the end points and adverse events were confirmed by an adjudication committee who were unaware of the allocation, as in previous larger hypertension trials.^10,11 Third, we excluded patients older than 85 years because Japanese guidelines¹⁹ recommended a target BP less than 150/90 mm Hg in elderly hypertensive patients when the RESPECT Study started enrollment. It remains unclear whether intensive BP lowering is beneficial for very elderly patients with a history of stroke. Fourth, none of the individual studies had significant results for secondary stroke prevention, although the meta-analysis showed clear benefit.

Rate reductions seen for recurrent stroke in the intensive group compared with the standard group were not significant in this study. However, a meta-analysis of our results together with those of 3 previous trials support that the use of a BP target less than 130/80 mm Hg is likely to be beneficial in patients with a history of stroke.

Accepted for Publication: April 25, 2019.

Corresponding Author: Kazuo Kitagawa, MD, PhD, Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan (kitagawa.kazuo@twmu.ac.jp).

Published Online: July 29, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2019.2167

Author Contributions: Dr Shimada had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Dr Shimada was the principal investigator.

Concept and design: Kitagawa, Yamamoto, Sunami, Ueda, Rakugi, Ohya, Okada, Higaki, Tanahashi, Kimura, Umemura, Matsumoto, Shimamoto, Ito, Saruta, Shimada.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Kitagawa, Yamamoto, Arima, Maeda, Kanzawa, Eguchi, Kamiyama, Minematsu, Ueda, Ohya, Kohro, Yonemoto, Tanahashi, Umemura, Matsumoto.

Drafting of the manuscript: Kitagawa, Arima, Maeda, Sunami, Ueda, Rakugi, Ohya, Yonemoto, Higaki, Kimura, Umemura, Matsumoto, Shimamoto, Saruta.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Kitagawa, Yamamoto, Kanzawa, Eguchi, Kamiyama, Minematsu, Ueda, Ohya, Kohro, Yonemoto, Okada, Tanahashi, Umemura, Matsumoto, Shimamoto, Ito, Saruta, Shimada.

Statistical analysis: Arima, Maeda, Kamiyama, Kohro, Yonemoto, Matsumoto.

Obtained funding: Ueda, Ohya, Matsumoto, Ito, Shimada.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Kitagawa, Kanzawa, Eguchi, Minematsu, Rakugi, Ohya, Higaki, Umemura, Matsumoto, Shimamoto.

Supervision: Kitagawa, Yamamoto, Kanzawa, Minematsu, Higaki, Tanahashi, Matsumoto, Shimamoto, Ito, Saruta, Shimada.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Kitagawa reported receiving grants and personal fees from Daiichi Sankyo, Bayer Inc, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, Astellas Pharma, and Sanofi. Dr Arima reported receiving personal fees from Bayer, Daiichi Sankyo, f*ckuda Denshi, Kyowa Kirin, and Takeda. Dr Minematsu reported receiving personal fees from Bayer Yakuhin, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Cooperation, Japan Stryker, Kowa, Nihon Medi-Physics Co, BMS, Sawai Pharmaceutical Co, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd, Daiichi Sankyo, Asteras Pharma, and Nippon Chemiphar and reported receiving other financial support from AstraZeneca, CSL Behring, Medico’s Hirata, and Bayer Yakuhin. Dr Ueda reported receiving grants from Kowa Soyaku, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, and Takeda Yakuhin and reported receiving personal fees from Ezai, Novartis, MSD, and Boelinger Ingelheim. Dr Rakugi reported receiving grants and/or personal fees from MSD, Astellas Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Bayer Yakuhin, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Mochida Pharmaceutical, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Novartis Pharma, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Pfizer Japan, Shionogi & Co, and Teijin Pharma. Dr Ohya reported receiving grants and/or personal fees from Takeda Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo, Novartis Pharma, Asterasu, Dainippon Sumitomo, MSD, Bayer, Pfizer, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Umemura reported receiving grants from Dainippon Sumitomo, Asteras, Pfizer, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, and Takeda and reported receiving personal fees from Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim and Takeda. Dr Matsumoto reported receiving personal fees from Kowa Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd, Sanofi KK, Daiichi Sankyo, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, Astellas Pharma Inc, AstraZeneca KK, Mochida Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd, Amgen Astellas BioPharma KK, Esai Co, Ltd, and Pfizer Japan Inc. Dr Shimamoto reported receiving personal fees from Takeda, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd, MSD, Astellas Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bayer Yakuhin. Dr Ito reported receiving grants and/or personal fees from MSD, Daiichi Sankyo, Takeda, Astellas, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Dr Shimada reported receiving personal fees from Dainippon Sumitomo Ltd, and Daiichi Sankyo. No other disclosures were reported.

Funding/Support: The Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome (RESPECT) Study was funded by Merck and Co Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Towa Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, and Omron Corporation.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Group Information: The members of the Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome (RESPECT) Study Group are listed below.

Chief Investigator: Kazuyuki Shimada, MD, Shin-Oyama City Hospital, Oyama, Tochigi, Japan.

Writing Committee: Kazuyuki Shimada (chair), MD, Shin-Oyama City Hospital, Oyama, Tochigi, Japan; Kazuo Kitagawa, MD, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Yasumasa Yamamoto, MD, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Nishikyo, Kyoto, Japan; Hisatomi Arima, MD, f*ckuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Jyonan, f*ckuoka, Japan; Shinichiro Ueda, MD, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan; Takahide Kohro, MD, Jichi Medical School, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan; Koji Yonemoto, PhD, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan.

Steering Committee: Kazuyuki Shimada (chair), MD, Shin-Oyama City Hospital, Oyama, Tochigi, Japan; Satoshi Umemura, MD, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; Yasushi Okada, MD, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Chuo, f*ckuoka, Japan; Genjiro Kimura, MD, Cardio-renal and Health Research Institute, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Kazuaki Shimamoto, MD, Japan Health Care College, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Norio Tanahashi, MD, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Saitama, Japan; Jitsuo Higaki, MD, Minami-Matsuyama Hospital, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan; Masayasu Matsumoto, MD, Sakai City Medical Center, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.

Protocol Committee: Masayasu Matsumoto (chair), MD, Sakai City Medical Center, Sakai, Osaka, Japan; Sadayoshi Ito, MD, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; Shinichiro Ueda, MD, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan; Yusuke Ohya, MD, University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan; Kazuo Kitagawa, MD, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Yasumasa Yamamoto, MD, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Nishikyo, Kyoto, Japan; Hiromi Rakugi, MD, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.

End Point Committee: Kazuo Minematsu (chair), MD, General of the Hospital, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Kazuomi Kario, MD, Jichi Medical School, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan; Yoshihiko Saito, MD, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan; Yasuo Terayama, MD, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan; Kazunori Toyoda, MD, General of the Hospital, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Takafumi Okura, MD, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan; Haruhiko Hoshino, MD, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Minato, Tokyo, Japan; Hirofumi Makino, MD, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan; Kazuo Eguchi, MD, Hanyu General Hospital, Hanyu, Saitama, Japan; Haruhito Uchida, MD, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan.

Statistical Analysis Team: Hisatomi Arima (chair), MD, f*ckuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Jyonan, f*ckuoka, Japan; Takahide Khoro, MD, Jichi Medical School, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan; Koji Yonemoto, PhD, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan.

Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee: Shinichiro Uchiyama (chair), MD, International University of Health and Welfare, Minato, Tokyo, Japan; Hideki Etani, MD, OBP Clinic, Chuou, Osaka, Japan; Tatsuo Kohriyama, MD, Brain Attack Center, Ota Memorial Hospital, f*ckuyama, Hiroshima, Japan; Hidekazu Tomimoto, MD, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan; Taku Yoshio, MD, Jichi Medical University Hospital, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan; Takao Saruta, MD, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Shotai Kobayashi, MD, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan.

Data Management Center: Hiroko Usami, PhD, Nonprofit Organization RESPECT Study Group, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.

RESPECT Study Investigators: The investigators are listed below by location in Japan and by institution.

Hokkaido: Satoshi Iihoshi, MD, Takeshi Mikami, MD, Nobuhiro Mikuni, MD, Kei Miyata, MD, and Tomohiro Murakami, MD, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Hideki Endo, MD, Takahito f*ckui, MD, Kentaro Fumoto, MD, Keiji Hara, MD, Kaori Honjo, MD, Kenji Kamiyama, MD, Yusuke Kinosh*ta, MD, Masana Maeda, MD, Masaaki Mikamoto, MD, Daisuke Mori, MD, Takeo Murahashi, MD, Ryota Nomura, MD, Shusaku Noro, MD, Tatsuya Ogino, MD, Masahiro Okuma, MD, Yasuhumi Otake, MD, Koichiro Shindo, MD, Hironori Sugio, MD, Hidekazu Takada, MD, Kazuki Takahira, MD, Akiko Takeuchi, MD, Toshiichi Watanabe, MD, and Yohei Yamaguchi, MD, Nakamura Memorial Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Takeo Abumiya, MD, and Kiyohiro Houkin, MD, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Shigeki Matsumura, MD, and Tomohiro Murakami, MD, Sapporo Miyanosawa Neurosurgical Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; Rikiya Shinohe, MD, Ebetsu City Hospital, Ebetsu, Hokkaido, Japan; Kiyomi Kuroshima, MD, Katsumi Takizawa, MD, and Kazuto Yoshida, MD, Japanese Red Cross Asahikawa Hospital, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan; Hideo Morimoto, MD, f*ckagawa Municipal Hospital, f*ckagawa, Hokkaido, Japan; Naoyuki Hasebe, MD, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan; Satoshi Koyama, MD, and Junichi Maruyama, MD, Asahikawa Rehabilitation Hospital, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan; Shinsuke Irie, MD, Kushiro Neurosurgical Clinic, Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan.

Aomori Prefecture: Takahiro Nakano, MD, Yukari Ogasawara, MD, and Hiroki Ohkuma, MD, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan; Kazuo Shibanai, MD, Hachinohe JRC Hospital, Hachinohe, Aomori, Japan.

Akita Prefecture: Kentaro Hikichi, MD, Shinya Kobayashi, MD, Junta Moroi, MD, Taizen Nakase, MD, Takeshi Okada, MD, Daiki Takano, MD, Shunsuke Takenaka, MD, and Shotaro Yoshioka, MD, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels–Akita, Akita, Japan; Toshiharu Yanagisawa, MD, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine, Akita, Japan; Yutaka Hirata, MD, Kita-Akita Municipal Hospital, Kita-Akita, Akita, Japan.

Iwate Prefecture: Shu Konno, MD, Matuzono Second Hospital, Morioka, Iwate, Japan; Tomohiko Sato, MD, National Hospital Organization, Iwate Hospital, Ichinoseki, Iwate, Japan.

Yamagata Prefecture: Miiko Ito, MD, Rei Kondo, MD, Wataru Mori, MD, and Shinjiro Saito, MD, Yamagata City Hospital SAISEIKAN, Yamagata, Japan; Yasuaki Kokubo, MD, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.

Miyagi Prefecture: Hideaki Kato, MD, and Hideki Oyama, MD, Senseki Hospital, Higashi-Matsushima, Miyagi, Japan; Kaneyuki Matsuo, MD, Matsuo Kenko Clinic, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; Masahiro Matsumoto, MD, and Mari Nakamura, MD, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

f*ckushima Prefecture: Takayuki Koizumi, MD, and Hiroyuki Sato, MD, Takeda General Hospital, Aizuwakamatsu, f*ckushima, Japan.

Ibaraki Prefecture: Yasushi Shibata, MD, Mito Kyodo General Hospital, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan.

Tochigi Prefecture: Kazuo Eguchi, MD, and Kazuomi Kario, MD, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan; Masaaki Hashimoto, MD, Kazuo Eguchi, MD, Hideharu Kurita, MD, and Eiji Matsumoto, MD, IUHW Hospital, Shiobara, Tochigi, Japan.

Gunma Prefecture: Koji Ishiguro, MD, Takasaki General Medical Center, Takasaki, Gunma, Japan; Ken Asakura, MD, Hiroya Fujimaki, MD, and Kazuki Wakabayashi, MD, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan; Kazunori Akaji, MD, Tomo Horikoshi, MD, Tadashige Kano, MD, Takao Kanzawa, MD, Takehiro Katano, MD, Hiroaki Kimura, MD, Ban Mihara, MD, Kentaro Suzuki, MD, and Yohei Takayama, MD, Institute of Brain and Blood Vessel Mihara Memorial Hospital, Isesaki, Gunma, Japan.

Saitama Prefecture: Akira Ishii, MD, Sin-ichi Momomura, MD, Hitoshi Sugawara, MD, and Takeshi Yamash*ta, MD, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama, Japan; Uichi Kaneko, MD, and Toshie Takahashi, MD, Saitama Red Cross Hospital, Saitama, Japan; Toshinari Arai, MD, Soka Municipal Hospital, Soka, Saitama, Japan; Yoshihiro Tanaka, MD, Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan; Shigehisa Inokuma, MD, Inokuma Clinic, Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan; Yuji Kato, MD, and Norio Tanahashi, MD, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka, Saitama, Japan.

Chiba Prefecture: Naoki Ishige, MD, National Hospital Organization Chiba Medical Center, Chiba, Japan; Kazuhiro Muramatsu, MD, Shigeru Nogawa, MD, and Takahito Yoshizaki, MD, Tokyo Dental College Ichikawa General Hospital, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan; Takashi Ohashi, MD, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Yachiyo, Chiba, Japan; Sumio Suda, MD, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital, Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan.

Tokyo: Yasuyuki Iguchi, MD, and Hidetaka Mitsumura, MD, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo, Japan; Tomohide Adachi, MD, Haruhiko Hoshino, MD, Fumie Konoeda, MD, and Koichi Oki, MD, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Minato, Tokyo, Japan; Ryota Tanaka, MD, Takao Urabe, MD, and Kazuo Yamashiro, MD, Juntendo University Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Akihiro Ito, MD, Hirofumi Nakatomi, MD, and Masaaki Shojima, MD, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Kuniaki Otsuka, MD, and Koichi Shibata, MD, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Medical Center East, Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan; Takato Abe, MD, Yoshiaki Itoh, MD, Koichi Oki, MD, and Norihiro Suzuki, MD, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Kazuo Kitagawa, MD, and Sono Toi, MD, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; Tamio Teramoto, MD, Teikyo University, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan; Atsushi f*ckunaga, MD, Yuki Kujuro, MD, Kouichi Ohta, MD, Takashi Osada, MD, and Katuyoshi Shimizu, MD, Tachikawa Hospital, Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan; Yasuhisa Kitagawa, MD, and Kentaro Tokuoka, MD, Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.

Kanagawa Prefecture: Masao Omura, MD, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; Hideyuki Kikyo, MD, Yokohama Public Medical Center for Stroke and Neurology, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; Tomoya Kamide, MD, Yoshihisa Kitamura, MD, Katsuyoshi Miyash*ta, MD, Kentaro Mori, MD, Hiroshi Shima, MD, and Akira Tamase, MD, Yokohama Sakae Kyosai Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; Tsugio Akutsu, MD, and Kazutoshi Nishiyama, MD, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan; Shunya Takizawa, MD, and Tsuyoshi Uesugi, MD, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.

Nagano Prefecture: Uichi Ikeda, MD, Megumi Koshikawa, MD, and Saeko Yamasaki, MD, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan; Atsushi Inoue, MD, Nagano Prefectural Kiso Hospital, Kisof*ckushima, Nagano, Japan.

Ishikawa Prefecture: Yasuko Matsumoto, MD, and Kazuyoshi Yamaguchi, MD, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; Genjirou Hirose, MD, and Satoshi Kontani, MD, Asanogawa General Hospital, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan; Kazuya Takasawa, MD, Public Central Hospital of Matto Ishikawa, Hakusan, Ishikawa, Japan.

Niigata Prefecture: Katsumi Hirahara, MD, Hirahara Naika Clinic, Jouetsu, Niigata, Japan; Makoto Kodama, MD, and Nobue Yagihara, MD, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.

Shizuoka Prefecture: Takashi Hata, MD, and Makoto Hori, MD, Shizuoka City Shimizu Hospital, Shimizu, Shizuoka, Japan.

Aichi Prefecture: Rokuhei Oda, MD, Nishio Municipal Hospital, Nishio, Aichi, Japan; Ayuka Kubo, MD, and Satoshi Okuda, MD, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Kentaro Yamada, MD, Nagoya City East Medical Center, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Hiroki Takeuchi, MD, Higashi Nagoya National Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Yoshio Araki, MD, Mizuki Ito, MD, Joe Senda, MD, and Toshihiko Wakabayashi, MD, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Shinji Ito, MD, and Tatsuro Mutoh, MD, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan.

Gifu Prefecture: Yukinori Kawase, MD, Hashimoto Clinic, Gifu, Japan; Fumio Ando, MD, Ando Clinic, Kani, Gifu, Japan.

Mie Prefecture: Shinya Okamoto, MD, Iwasaki Hospital, Tsu, Mie, Japan; Takuya Shimada, MD, and Akihiro Shindo, MD, Sakakibara Onsen Hospital, Tsu, Mie, Japan; Masakatsu Nishikawa, MD, Atsushi Niwa, MD, Ryogen Sasaki, MD, Akihiro Shindo, MD, and Hidekazu Tomimoto, MD, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan; Hiroto Murata, MD, Saiseikai Matsusaka General Hospital, Matsusaka, Mie, Japan; Kenichiro Yata, MD, Suzuka Kaisei Hospital, Suzuka, Mie, Japan.

Shiga Prefecture: Koushun Matsuo, MD, Omihachiman Community Medical Center, Omihachiman, Shiga, Japan.

Kyoto: Hideo Yagi, MD, Koseikai Takeda Hospital, Shimogyo, Kyoto, Japan; Toshiyuki Shiogai, MD, Kyoto Takeda Hospital, Shimogyo, Kyoto, Japan; Yoshinari Nagakane, MD, and Yasumasa Yamamoto, MD, Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital, Kamigyo, Kyoto, Japan; Jun Fujinami, MD, Masanori Nakagawa, MD, Ryo Ohara, MD, and Yasuhiro Tomii, MD, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo, Kyoto, Japan; Yoshiki Arakawa, MD, Takeshi Funaki, MD, Masafumi Ihara, MD, Akihiro Kitamura, MD, Takakuni Maki, MD, Susumu Miyamoto, MD, Yoshifumi Nakaya, MD, Ryosuke Takahashi, MD, Yohei Takenobu, MD, and Kazumichi Yoshida, MD, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan; Tadashi Ino, MD, Rakuwakai Otowa Hospital, Yamashina, Kyoto, Japan; Nagako Murase, MD, and Ryo Ohotani, MD, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Fushimi, Kyoto, Japan; Yasuhiro Tomii, MD, and Yasumasa Yamamoto, MD, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, Nishikyo, Kyoto, Japan; Atsushi Kawashima, MD, and Akiko Watanabe, MD, f*ckuchiyama City Hospital, f*ckuchiyama, Kyoto, Japan; Yuko Hayashi, MD, Takuma Ohmichi, MD, Rei Yasuda, MD, Akira Yoshioka, MD, and Natsuko Yuki, MD, National Hospital Organization Maizuru Medical Center, Maizuru, Kyoto, Japan; Masahiro Makino, MD, Yasuhiro Tomii, MD, and Tatsuyuki Yamaguchi, MD, Kyoto Chubu Medical Center, Nantan, Kyoto, Japan.

Osaka: Jyo Matsuzaki, MD, Hitoshi Niki, MD, Shoichi Shiraishi, MD, and Takehiko Yanagihara, MD, Tane General Hospital, Nishi, Osaka, Japan; Keiichi Yamada, MD, Kansai Electric Power Hospital, f*ckushima, Osaka, Japan; Jun Hatate, MD, Kaori Miwa, MD, and Shuhei Okazaki, MD, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Shoji Arihiro, MD, Ryosuke Doijiri, MD, Kyoko Higashida, MD, Katsufumi Kajimoto, MD, Kotaro Miyash*ta, MD, Kazuyuki Nagatsuka, MD, Kozue Saito, MD, Yuri Sugiura, MD, Hotake Takizawa, MD, Takako Torii, MD, Kazunori Toyoda, MD, and Chiaki Yokota, MD, General of the Hospital, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan; Yoshinaga Kajimoto, MD, and Toshihiko Kuroiwa, MD, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki, Osaka, Japan; Ryuzo f*ckunaga, MD, and Tsutomu Takahashi, MD, JCHO Hoshigaoka Medical Center, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan; Kazutami Nakao, MD, Kawachi General Hospital, Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan; Yuta Kajiyama, MD, Yasuyoshi Kimura, MD, Takashi Naka, MD, Hironori Otomune, MD, Takao Tanahashi, MD, and Takuya Uehara, MD, Higashiosaka City Medical Center, Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan; Hiroyuki Hashimoto, MD, and Toshihiko Uematsu, MD, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.

Nara Prefecture: Kazuo Kataoka, MD, Kinki University Nara Hospital, Ikoma, Nara, Japan; Satoshi Okayama, MD, and Satoshi Somekawa, MD, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan; Shuichi Yamada, MD, Oyodo Town Hospital, Ikoma, Nara, Japan; Rie Sasaki, MD, and Shigeru Yamano, MD, Nara Prefecture General Rehabilitation Center, Shikigun, Nara, Japan.

Wakayama Prefecture: Naoyuki Nakao, MD, and Shinji Obayashi, MD, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan.

Hyogo Prefecture: Hirotoshi Hamaguchi, MD, Tatsushi Toda, MD, and Kazuo Washida, MD, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Taku Hoshi, MD, Tomoyuki Kono, MD, Hiroaki Sekiya, MD, Norifumi Sugo, MD, Kenichi Todo, MD, Masaya Togo, MD, Hiroshi Yamagami, MD, and Shiro Yamamoto, MD, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Yoshihiko Shiro, MD, and Norifumi Sugo, MD, Kobe City Medical Center West Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan; Hirotoshi Hamaguchi, MD, Kita-Harima Medical Center, Ono, Hyogo, Japan; Toshio Takaoka, MD, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.

Shimane Prefecture: Satoshi Abe, MD, Chizuko Hamada, MD, Masaki Ishihara, MD, Katuhiko Kadota, MD, Tomonori Nakagawa, MD, Hiroaki Oguro, MD, Hiroyuki Takayoshi, MD, Takuya Yamaguchi, MD, and Shuuhei Yamaguchi, MD, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane, Japan; Ryo Mizuhara, MD, Kazunori Okada, MD, and Shingo Yamagata, MD, Ohda Municipal Hospital, Ohda, Shimane, Japan; Kazunori Okada, MD, Ohda Silver Clinic, Ohda, Shimane, Japan; Akira Sasaki, MD, JCHO Tamatsukuri Hospital, Matsue, Shimane, Japan.

Okayama Prefecture: Koji Abe, MD, Kentaro Deguchi, MD, Shoko Deguchi, MD, and Yumiko Nakano, MD, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan; Satoshi Hirai, MD, Masaaki Uno, MD, and Kimihiko Yokosuka, MD, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan; Yasuhiro Manabe, MD, National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center, Kita, Okayama, Japan.

Hiroshima Prefecture: Hijiri Ito, MD, Vihara Hananosato Hospital, Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan; Shiro Aoki, MD, Naohisa Hosomi, MD, Yasuki Kihara, MD, Tomohiko Kisaka, MD, Hirofumi Maruyama, MD, and Masayasu Matsumoto, MD, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan; Hayato Araki, MD, and Ryo Ogami, MD, Mazda Hospital, Akigun, Hiroshima, Japan; Tsuyoshi Torii, MD, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan; Noboru Yokoyama, MD, and Takakazu Yokoyama, MD, Yokoyama Hospital, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan; Satoshi Kataoka, MD, and Takeshi Kitamura, MD, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Kure, Hiroshima, Japan.

Yamaguchi Prefecture: Takashi Kanda, MD, Toshihiko Maeda, MD, and Fumitaka Shimizu, MD, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan; Kozaburo Seki, MD, Yamaguchi Rosai Hospital, Sanyoonoda, Yamaguchi, Japan.

Kagawa Prefecture: Yuko Bando, MD, and Masaki Ohara, MD, Ayagawa National Health Insurance SUE Hospital, Ayautagun, Kagawa, Japan.

Kochi Prefecture: Masahiro Yamasaki, MD, Chikamori Hospital, Okawasuji, Kochi, Japan; Noritaka Masahira, MD, Tetsuya Ueba, MD, and Yusuke Ueba, MD, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan.

Ehime Prefecture: Norio Sunami, MD, Matsuyama Shimin Hospital, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan; Yuichi Fujimoto, MD, Keiko Haro, MD, Hidenori Ogata, MD, and Norihiko Shida, MD, Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan; Takeshi Matsumoto, MD, and Kensho Okamoto, MD, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan; Jitsuo Higaki, MD, and Takafumi Okura, MD, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, Japan; Ryuichi Kawamoto, MD, Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital, Seiyo, Ehime, Japan.

f*ckuoka Prefecture: Shuji Arakawa, MD, and Shoji Arihiro, MD, Kyushu Rosai Hospital, Kitakyushu, f*ckuoka, Japan; Hirofumi Shii, MD, and Hidetoshi Kanai, MD, Kokura Kinen Hospital, Kitakyushu, f*ckuoka, Japan; Shigeru Fujimoto, MD, Juro Jinnouchi, MD, Takayuki Matsuki, MD, and Masato Osaki, MD, Steel Memorial Yawata Hospital, Kitakyushu, f*ckuoka, Japan; Kimika Arakawa, MD, Ai Ibaraki, MD, Kanako Kiyohara, MD, Yuko Ohta, MD, Hideyuki Oniki, MD, Minako Sakaki, MD, Mitsuhiro Tominaga, MD, and Takuya Tsuchihashi, MD, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Chuo, f*ckuoka, Japan; Saho Higashi, MD, Hiromi Ishikawa, MD, Koji Ish*tsuka, MD, Jiro Kitayama, MD, and Hiroshi Nakane, MD, National Hospital Organization f*ckuoka Higashi Medical Center, Koga, f*ckuoka, Japan; Takeo Yoshimura, MD, f*ckuoka City Hospital, Hakata, f*ckuoka, Japan; Shunsuke Kakino, MD, and Yoshirou Kaneko, MD, f*ckuoka Tokushukai Medical Center, Kasuga, f*ckuoka, Japan.

Kumamoto Prefecture: Junnosuke Inoue, MD, Kumamoto Jikei Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan.

Kagoshima Prefecture: Yoshikazu Maruyama, MD, Imakiire General Hospital, Shimotatuo, Kagoshima, Japan.

Okinawa Prefecture: Katsunori Isa, MD, Yusuke Ohya, MD, and Hirokuni Sakima, MD, University of the Ryukyus Graduate School of Medicine, Nakagamigun, Okinawa, Japan; Seigo Nakada, MD, Chibana Clinic, Chibana, Okinawa, Japan.

Data Sharing Statement: See Supplement 3.

Additional Contributions: Hiroko Usami, PhD, chief secretary of the Recurrent Stroke Prevention Clinical Outcome (RESPECT) Study Group, performed data management and protocol and manuscript preparation. Yasuko Ohtsuki, BA, clinical research coordinator, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, contributed to patient recruitment and acquisition of informed consent. They were not compensated for their contributions. We appreciate the contributions of all the investigators and other clinical and research staff involved in the trial.