Propensity score matching in evaluation of effect of butylphthalide injection on prognosis of patients with acute anterior circulatory large vessel occlusive stroke

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of butylphthalide injection on the prognosis of patients with acute anterior circulatory large vessel occlusive stroke based on propensity score matching (PSM). Methods The clinical data of 310 patients with acute anterior circulatory large vessel occlusive stroke who received emergency interventional treatment in our hospital from January, 2016 to January, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a butylphthalide group and a control group according to whether they used butylphthalide injection or not. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to analyze the baseline characteristics of the balanced butylphthalide group and the control group. The 90 d functional prognosis was compared between the two groups. Results Finally, 288 cases were included in the study (including 230 cases of recanalization patients), including 108 cases in the butylphthalide group and 180 cases in the control group. The ratio of 90 d good functional outcome of the butylphthalide group was higher than that of the control group [68 (63.0%) vs. 80 (44.4%), χ2=4.755, P=0.030]. 144 cases were successfully matched by PSM, with 72 cases in each group; and there was no statistical difference in 90 d good functional outcome between the two groups [48 (66.7%) vs. 32 (44.4%); χ2=3.229, P=0.073]. There were 94 cases in the butylphthalide injection group and 136 cases in the control group among the 230 cases of recanalization patients; and there was no statistical difference in 90 d good functional outcome between the two groups [66 (70.2%) vs. 78 (57.4%); χ2=1.877, P=0.176)]. 120 cases were successfully matched by PSM, with 60 cases in each group; and the ratio of 90 d good functional outcome of the butylphthalide group was higher than that of the control group [44 (73.3%) vs. 28 (46.7%), χ2=5.227, P=0.028]. Conclusion Butylphthalide injection can further improve the clinical prognosis of recanalization patients with acute anterior circulatory large vessel occlusive stroke. Key words: Acute; Anterior circulatory; Large vessel occlusive stroke; Butylphthalide injection; Propensity score matching; Prognosis