Early neurological deterioration in minor stroke patients with large artery atherosclerosis and small vessel occlusion: a propensity score matched analysis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the risk difference of early neurological deterioration (END) in minor stroke patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and small vessel occlusion (SVO). Methods From January 2012 to August 2016, consecutive patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke registered in the Nanjing Stroke Registration System were enrolled. The patients with minor stroke whose National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤3 on admission were screened. Propensity score matching analysis and McNemar's test were used to analyze the risk difference of END in minor stroke patients with LAA and SVO. Results A total of 778 patients with minor stroke were included, including 249 with LAA, 183 with SAO, and 145 matched pairs with propensity score matching method. The proportion of patients with END in the LAA group was significantly higher than that in the SVO group (6.2% vs. 1.4%; P<0.001). Conclusion Minor stroke due to LAA is more prone to have END than that due to SVO. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Atherosclerosis; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases; Severity of Illness Index; Disease Progression; Propensity Score; Risk Factors; Time Factors