Abstract 2825: History of Cancer Predicts Mortality After Acute Endovascular Treatment for Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Endovascular treatment is an emerging therapy for acute ischemic stroke. There is no clear consensus about how best to select patients that may benefit from intervention. We conducted an exploratory analysis of clinical risk factors to predict mortality after endovascular intervention in order to better understand how to improve outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We identified consecutive series of patients treated with endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke at two academic hospitals between 2005 to 2010. Key clinical data elements and clinical outcomes at the time of discharge were abstracted from medical records. We evaluated univariate and multivariable associations using logistic regression and compared mean NIH Stroke Scale between those with and without a history of cancer using the t-test. Results: We identified 88 patients who received endovascular intervention with intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and/or mechanical thrombectomy. The mean age of the cohort was 68.2 (SD 16.6) and 44 (55%) were female. A total of 23 (26.1%) patients died during the index hospitalization or were discharged to hospice care. A history of cancer was documented in 20 (22.7%) patients. A history of cancer was associated with a 3.2-fold (95% CI 1.1-9.1) higher odds of mortality. This association persisted after adjusting for age greater than 80 years and hypertension (OR of 4.0, 95% CI 1.3-12). The average NIH Stroke Scale was 15.6 in those with cancer compared to 14.6 without (p=0.53). A history of cancer was not associated with parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.3-4.9), IV tPA (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.1-2.3), a TIMI score of 2b or 3 (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.3), or an internal carotid artery occlusion (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.5-5.1). Conclusions: In an exploratory analysis of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular therapy, a history of cancer was strongly associated with significantly increased odds of mortality. One possible explanation could be that patients with cancer may have earlier withdrawal of care but the reasons for this observed association are unclear. Further investigation is necessary to verify and explain the reasons for this observation in order to improve outcomes for acute ischemic stroke patients.