Higher National Institutes Of Health Stroke Scale Score Research Articles

Overall and linked blood pressure variabilities in the first 24 hours and mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a retrospective study of 1,036 patients.

This study aims to establish the individual contributions of blood pressure variability (BPV) indexes, categorized into overall and linked variability, to mortality following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by examining the risk factors. Patients with spontaneous ICH (n = 1,036) were identified with valid blood pressures (BP) from the first 24-h systolic BP records in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV version 2.2 database (MIMIC IV). Information on the baseline characteristics, including age, sex, initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, ICH location, Charlson comorbidity index score, and presence of diabetes with or without complications, were collected. Three indexes of BPV-range, standard deviation (SD), and generalized BPV (GBPV)-were calculated using the first 24-h systolic BPs. An automated stepwise variable-selection procedure was used to develop the final logistic model for predicting in-hospital mortality. Out of 1,036 patients, 802 (77.4%) survived and were discharged after spontaneous ICH. Factors associated with mortality included age; male sex; ICH in the brainstem, ventricle, or multiple locations; low GCS score (< 9); high NIHSS score (> 20); and diabetes with complications. Mean systolic BP, SD, and GBPV were also linked to mortality. Higher GBPV notably increased the risk of in-hospital death, with an odds ratio of 3.21 (95% confidence interval, 2.10 to 4.97) for every + 10 mmHg/h change in GBPV. This study underscores the additional impact of GBPV, herein linked to BPV, on mortality following ICH, providing further insights into the management of blood pressure in the early stages of ICH treatment.

Tongue Pressure and Grip Strength as Indicators of Persistent Dysphagia After Acute Stroke.

This study aimed to identify the independent predictors of postacute stroke dysphagia at discharge using sarcopenia-related parameters. This single-center prospective observational study assessed consecutive inpatients diagnosed with cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage upon admission to the stroke unit. Tongue pressure, grip strength, and body composition were evaluated within 48h. Dysphagia was defined by a functional oral intake scale of ≤ 5. Patient characteristics were compared between non-dysphagia and dysphagia groups using Mann-Whitney or chi-squared tests. Logistic regression analysis was performed using age, sex, tongue pressure, grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores as explanatory variables, with dysphagia at discharge as the objective variable. A total of 302 patients (mean age: 69.4 ± 13.8 years, 67.5% male) were analyzed, with 64 having dysphagia at discharge (21.2%). The dysphagia group was significantly older (p<0.001), had higher NIHSS scores on admission (p<0.001), lower SMI (p = 0.002), lower grip strength (p<0.001), and lower tongue pressure (p<0.001) than the non-dysphagia group. Logistic regression revealed that age (OR: 1.042, p = 0.018), tongue pressure (OR: 0.954, p = 0.010), and grip strength (OR: 0.943, p = 0.048) on admission were independent predictors of dysphagia at discharge, while NIHSS scores (OR: 1.403, p = 0.106), sex, and SMI (OR: 1.403, p = 0.150) were not. Older age, reduced tongue pressure, and reduced grip strength are strong predictors of persistent poststroke dysphagia at discharge. Thus, muscle strength is a more valuable parameter than muscle mass in predicting persistent poststroke dysphagia.

Stroke severity and outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage on anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents: an analysis from the Japan Stroke Data Bank.

Some patients with intracerebral hemorrhage are on antithrombotic agents at the time of the event and these may worsen outcome, but the relative risk of different oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents is uncertain. We determined associations between pre-onset intake of antithrombotic agents and initial stroke severity, and outcomes, in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage admitted within 24 hours after onset between January 2017 and December 2020 and recruited to the Japan Stroke Data Bank, a hospital-based multicenter prospective registry, were included. Enrolled patients were classified into four groups based on the type of antithrombotic agents being used on admission. The outcomes were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 5-6 at discharge. Of a total 9,810 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (4,267 females; mean age, 70±15 years), 77.1% were classified into the no-antithrombotic group, 13.2% into the antiplatelet group, 4.0% into the warfarin group, and 5.8% into the direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) group. Median (interquartile range) NIHSS score on admission was 12 (5-22), 13 (5-26), 15 (5-30), and 13 (6-24), respectively, in the four groups. In multivariable analysis, the pre stroke warfarin use was associated with higher NIHSS score (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.09 [95%confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.13], with the no-antithrombotic group as the reference), but the antiplatelet group (1.00 [95%CI, 0.98-1.02]) and DOAC group (0.98 [95%CI, 0.95-1.01]) was not. The rate of mRS 5-6 at discharge was 30.8%, 41.9%, 48.6%, and 41.5%, respectively, in the four groups. In multivariable analysis, pre stroke warfarin use was associated with mRS 5-6 (adjusted odds ratio: 1.90 [95%CI, 1.28-2.81], with the no-antithrombotic group as the reference), but the antiplatelet group (1.12 [95%CI, 0.91-1.37]) and DOAC group (1.25 [95%CI, 0.88-1.77]) was not. Patients who were taking warfarin prior to intracerebral hemorrhage onset suffered more severe intracerebral hemorrhage as evidenced by higher admission NIHSS and higher discharge mRS. In contrast, no increase in severity was seen with antiplatelet agents.

Impact of vitamin D deficiency on ischemic stroke severity: Insights from a prospective study

Background. Ischemic stroke, characterized by the obstruction of blood flow to the brain, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The severity of ischemic stroke is typically assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), which predicts patient outcomes. Recent research suggests a potential link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of cerebrovascular events, including ischemic stroke. However, the specific relationship between vitamin D deficiency and stroke severity remains underexplored. Objective. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and NIHSS scores in patients with ischemic stroke to determine if vitamin D deficiency contributes to the severity of neurological deficits observed in these patients. Materials and methods. This prospective observational study was conducted at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, involving 86 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Inclusion criteria included age ≥ 18 years, confirmed diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke by neuroimaging, and presentation within 24 hours of symptom onset. Exclusion criteria included hemorrhagic stroke, conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism, and vitamin D supplementation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), and NIHSS scores were assessed within 24 hours of admission. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression to adjust for confounders. Results. The study found a significant negative correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and NIHSS scores at admission (Pearson correlation coefficient r = -0.4081, p &lt;0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed this association (β = -0.3994, p &lt;0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities. Age (β = 0.1123, p = 0.009) and comorbid conditions (β= 0.9565, p = 0.008) were also significantly associated with higher NIHSS scores. Conclusion. The study demonstrates a significant negative correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and ischemic stroke severity, suggesting that higher vitamin D levels may be associated with less severe strokes. Further research is needed to explore the mechanistic pathways and therapeutic potential of vitamin D in stroke management, emphasizing the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels to potentially reduce stroke severity and improve patient outcomes.

Factors associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia and unsuccessful nasogastric tube removal after endovascular thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke.

To identify the predictive variables for post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) among anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). This retrospective cohort study enrolled hospitalized patients with anterior LVO stroke who underwent EVT between January 1, 2018 and October 31, 2022. PSD was defined as the unsuccessful removal of the nasogastric (NG) tube. Factors, such as premorbid characteristics, laboratory results, EVT, rehabilitation-related parameters, and neuro-imaging, were analyzed for correlations to PSD at 4 and 12weeks. The study enrolled 136 patients, with a mean age of 72.9 ± 13.0years, and 59 patients (43.4%) were male. At 4weeks, 47.1% of the patients needed an NG tube, and at 12weeks, 16.2% still required an NG tube. We found that lower albumin, lower body mass index (BMI), higher initial and 24-h post-EVT National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, stroke-associated pneumonia, poor initial sitting balance and ability to sit up, insula or frontal operculum lesions, and bilateral hemisphere involvement were all associated with PSD at both 4 and 12weeks in the univariate logistic regression. Multivariate analysis revealed that significant predictors of unsuccessful NG tube removal at 4weeks included lower BMI (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.73, p = 0.005), hemorrhagic transformation (aOR 4.01, p = 0.0335), higher NIHSS scores at 24h post-EVT (aOR 1.13, p = 0.0288), poor initial sitting ability (aOR 0.52, p = 0.0231), insular cortex ischemia (aOR 7.26, p = 0.0056), and bilateral hemisphere involvement (aOR 41.19, p < 0.0001). At 12weeks, lower BMI (aOR 0.78, p = 0.0098), poor initial sitting balance (aOR 0.57, p = 0.0287), insular cortex lesions (aOR 4.83, p = 0.0092), and bilateral hemisphere involvement (aOR 4.07, p = 0.0139) remained significant predictors. In patients with anterior LVO following EVT, PSD was associated with lower BMI, higher NIHSS scores, poor initial sitting balance and sitting ability, insular lesions, and bilateral hemisphere involvement.

Impact of Vitamin D Deficiency on Ischemic Stroke Severity: Insights from a Prospective Study.

Background Ischemic stroke, characterized by the obstruction of blood flow to the brain, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The severity of ischemic stroke is commonly assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), which helps predict patient outcomes. Recent research suggests a potential link between low vitamin D levels and an increased risk of cerebrovascular events, including ischemic stroke. However, the specific relationship between vitamin D deficiency and stroke severity remains underexplored. Objectives The study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and NIHSS scores in patients with ischemic stroke to determine whether vitamin D deficiency is associated with the severity of neurological deficits in these patients. Materials and methods This prospective observational study was conducted at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai, and involved 86 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, a confirmed diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke by neuroimaging, and presentation within 24 hours of symptom onset. Exclusion criteria included hemorrhagic stroke, conditions affecting vitamin D metabolism, and current vitamin D supplementation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), and NIHSS scores were assessed within 24 hours of admission. Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlation and multivariate linear regression to adjust for confounding variables. Results The study found that lower serum 25(OH)D levels were correlated with higher severity of stroke symptoms, as indicated by a significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D levels and NIHSS scores at admission (Pearson correlation coefficient r = -0.4081, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed this association (β = -0.3994, p < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. In addition, age (β = 0.1123, p = 0.009) and comorbid conditions (β = 0.9565, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with higher NIHSS scores. Conclusion The study demonstrates a significant negative correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and ischemic stroke severity, suggesting that higher vitamin D levels may be associated with less severe strokes. Further research is needed to explore the mechanistic pathways and therapeutic potential of vitamin D in stroke management. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels could be crucial for potentially reducing stroke severity and improving patient outcomes.

Establishment and validation of a nomogram for predicting the risk of hip fracture in patients with stroke: A multicenter retrospective study

PurposeThere are currently no models for predicting hip fractures after stroke. This study wanted to investigate the risk factors leading to hip fracture in stroke patients and to establish a risk prediction model to visualize this risk. Patients and MethodsWe reviewed 439 stroke patients with or without hip fractures admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2014 to June 2017 as the training set, and collected 83 patients of the same type from the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2020 to June 2023 as the testing set. Patients were divided into fracture group and non-fracture group based on the presence of hip fractures. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen for meaningful factors. Nomogram predicting the risk of hip fracture occurrence were created based on the multifactor analysis, and performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). A web calculator was created to facilitate a more convenient interactive experience for clinicians. ResultsIn training set, there were 35 cases (7.9 %) of hip fractures after stroke, while in testing set, this data was 13 cases (15.6 %). In training set, univariate analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in the number of falls, smoking, hypertension, glucocorticoids, number of strokes, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), visual acuity level, National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Stop Walking When Talking (SWWT) (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that number of falls [OR=17.104, 95 % CI (3.727–78.489), P = 0.000], NIHSS [OR=1.565, 95 % CI (1.193–2.052), P = 0.001], SWWT [OR=12.080, 95 % CI (2.398–60.851), P = 0.003] were independent risk factors positively associated with new fractures. BMD [OR = 0.155, 95 % CI (0.044–0.546), P = 0.012] and BBS [OR = 0.840, 95 % CI (0.739–0.954), P = 0.007] were negatively associated with new fractures. The area under the curve (AUC) of nomogram were 0.939 (95 % CI: 0.748–0.943) and 0.980 (95 % CI: 0.886–1.000) in training and testing sets, respectively, and the calibration curves showed a high agreement between predicted and actual status with an area under the decision curve of 0.034 and 0.109, respectively. ConclusionsThe number of falls, fracture history, low BBS score, high NIHSS score, and positive SWWT are risk factors for hip fracture after stroke. Based on this, a nomogram with high accuracy was developed and a web calculator (https://stroke.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/) was created.

Pretreatment predictors of very poor clinical outcomes in medium vessel occlusion stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) from primary medium vessel occlusions (MeVO) is a prevalent condition associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite the common use of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in AIS, predictors of poor outcomes in MeVO remain poorly characterized. In this prospectively collected, retrospectively reviewed, multicenter, multinational study, data from the MAD-MT (Multicenter Analysis of primary Distal medium vessel occlusions: effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy) registry were analyzed. The study included 1568 patients from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe, treated with MT, with or without intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IVtPA), between September 2017 and July 2021. Among the 1568 patients, 347 (22.2%) experienced very poor outcomes (modified Rankin score (mRS), 5-6). Key predictors of poor outcomes were advanced age (odds ratio (OR): 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02 to 1.04; p < 0.001), higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.10; p < 0.001), pre-operative glucose levels (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.02; p < 0.001), and a baseline mRS of 4 (OR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.25 to 5.82; p = 0.011). The multivariable model demonstrated good predictive accuracy with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.76. This study demonstrates that advanced age, higher NIHSS scores, elevated pre-stroke mRS, and pre-operative glucose levels significantly predict very poor outcomes in AIS-MeVO patients who received MT. These findings highlight the importance of a comprehensive risk assessment in primary MeVO patients for personalized treatment strategies. However, they also suggest a need for cautious patient selection for endovascular thrombectomy. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore targeted therapeutic interventions.

Decompressive Craniectomy in Patients with Malignant Stroke with Additional Vascular Territory

IntroductionDecompressive craniectomy substantially reduces mortality and disability rates following a malignant stroke. This procedure remains a life-saving option, especially in contexts with little access to mechanical thrombectomy despite downward trends in the performance of decompressive craniectomy due to discussions on the acceptance of living with severe disabilities. However, the outcomes of the surgery in cases involving concomitant occlusion of anterior or posterior cerebral arteries have not been extensively studied. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, spanning January 2010 to December 2022 and including patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy, we compared outcomes between patients with and without additional vascular territory involvement. Independent variables included age, sex, comorbidities, admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, time elapsed between stroke and surgery, laterality of the stroke, midline shift, and postoperative infarction volume. Outcomes included mortality and Modified Rankin Score at the 3-month follow-up. ResultsOf the 86 patients analyzed, 61 (70.9%) and 25 (29.1%) demonstrated no territory and additional territory involvement, respectively. Patients with involvement of additional territories exhibited lower admission GCS scores, higher NIHSS scores, and larger postoperative infarction volumes. However, these variables were not associated with poor outcomes. Univariate analyses revealed no differences in mortality or severe disability. Even after adjustment, the differences remained insignificant for mortality and severe disability. Age emerged as the sole variable linked to increased mortality. ConclusionOur data suggest that, for patients with malignant stroke undergoing decompressive craniectomy, the outcomes for patients with and without involvement of additional vascular territory are similar.

The Effectiveness of The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in Determining Nursing Diagnoses in Stroke Patients: A Scoping Review.

The symptoms of a stroke can vary depending on which part of the brain is affected, potentially leading to severe consequences or difficulties. This scoping review aims to assess the effectiveness of the NIHSS in establishing nursing diagnoses in stroke patients. The review involved searches on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and PubMed from 2012 to January 2023. The identification and selection of literature followed Moher's guidelines in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) 2009, resulting in ten articles for discussion. The study utilized the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) criteria to evaluate the severity of strokes by assessing neurological impairments. The analysis followed Arksey and O'Malley's model. The study findings highlighted a significant relationship between NIHSS scores and nursing diagnoses, showing a positive trend where higher NIHSS scores were associated with increased nursing diagnoses. In conclusion, integrating the NIHSS with complementary assessment instruments is crucial in refining nursing diagnoses among stroke patients and enhancing the standard of care and patient prognosis.

Favorable prognosis in posterior circulation ischemic stroke: Insights from a nationwide stroke databank

IntroductionClinical trials have historically underrepresented patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS). This study aimed to comprehensively assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of PCIS patients compared to those with anterior circulation ischemic stroke (ACIS). MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the Japan Stroke Data Bank, encompassing 20 years across 130 stroke centers. The study focused on patients diagnosed with PCIS or ACIS. ResultsAmong 37,069 patients reviewed, 7425 had PCIS, whereas 29,644 had ACIS. PCIS patients were younger and had a lower female representation than ACIS patients. Notably, PCIS patients had more favorable outcomes: 71% achieved a modified Rankin Scale of 0–2 or showed no deterioration at discharge (17 days at the median after admission), compared to 60% for ACIS patients (p < 0.001). Factors associated with an unfavorable outcome in the PCIS subgroup were older age, female sex (assigned at birth), history of hypertension, and higher National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission. In both sexes, older age and higher NIHSS scores were negatively associated with favorable outcomes. ConclusionsPCIS patients demonstrated a more favorable prognosis than ACIS patients. Factors like older age, female sex, and higher NIHSS scores at admission were identified as independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes in PCIS patients. Older age and higher NIHSS scores at admission were common independent negative factors for a favorable outcome regardless of sex.

Risk factors and characteristics analysis of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral infarction during recovery period

Objective To analyze the risk factors and characteristics of cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral infarction during the recovery period. Methods This retrospective case-control study included 183 patients with cerebral infarction in the recovery period. According to the MMSE score, they were divided into a cognitive impairment group of 79 cases and a cognitive normal group of 104 cases. Collect clinical data from all patients, including age, gender, body mass index, laboratory test results, past medical history, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, modified Barthel index, Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) classification, and number of infarcted lesions. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors related to cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral infarction. Result There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the cognitive impairment group and the cognitive normal group in terms of age, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein level, NIHSS score, modified Barthel index, and number of infarcted lesions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 65 years, stroke, carotid artery plaques, NIHSS score ≥ 5, anterior circulation infarction type, and multiple infarcted lesions were important risk factors for cognitive impairment. Conclusion Elderly age, presence of carotid artery plaques, high NIHSS score, multiple infarct lesions, and specific infarct types are important risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in patients during the recovery period of cerebral infarction.

Initial stroke severity and discharge outcome in patients with muscle mass deficit.

This study aimed to investigate the association between muscle mass deficit and the initial severity of ischemic stroke. The impact of muscle mass deficit on the discharge outcome was also evaluated. This retrospective study included 660 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent bioelectrical impedance analyses. We compared the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, occurrence of moderate stroke (NIHSSS ≥ 5) at admission, and unfavorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 2) at discharge between patients with and without muscle mass deficit using Poisson and logistic regression analyses. The mean age of the study patients was 65.6 ± 13.0, and 63.3% were males. Muscle mass deficit was present in 24.4% of patients. Muscle mass deficit was significantly and independently associated with NIHSS score or moderate stroke (all p < 0.05). This association was noted regardless of patient characteristics. Among the respective NIHSS items, muscle mass deficit was significantly associated with facial palsy, motor function of the arm or leg, limb ataxia, and dysarthria. Muscle mass deficit also led to unfavorable functional outcome, which was mediated by the initial NIHSS score. In conclusion, muscle mass deficit is associated with higher NIHSS score and unfavorable functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

The effect of asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after mechanical thrombectomy on clinical outcome

Background and objectiveWhether asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) affects the clinical outcomes in patients with acute large vessel occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) remains unclear. This study aimed to address this uncertainty. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed patients with acute ischemic stroke and internal carotid or middle cerebral (M1 segment) artery occlusion treated with MT between April 2011 and March 2021 at a single center. All patients had a premorbid modified Rankin scale (mRS) score ≤ 2 and an anterior circulation occlusion and underwent magnetic resonance imaging at admission. Asymptomatic ICH was defined as ICH without symptomatic ICH defined by the SITS-MOST criteria. A favorable outcome was defined as an mRS score ≤ 2 at 90 days after stroke onset. ResultsOur study included 349 patients; 62% were men, the median age was 76 [67–83] years, and the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 15 [8–21]. As determined via computed tomography, 103 (30%) patients had ICH (20 symptomatic and 83 asymptomatic). The favorable outcome rate was significantly lower for asymptomatic vs. no ICH (30% vs. 67%, p < 0.01). In a multivariate regression analysis, a high NIHSS score (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.10; p < 0.01) and low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65–0.92; p < 0.01) were independent risk factors for ICH. ConclusionsAsymptomatic ICH is associated with poor clinical outcome at 90 days after stroke onset.

Analysis of risk factors for pulmonary infection in acute ischemic stroke patients following intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase.

To identify the risk factors for pulmonary infection in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis using alteplase. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 110 acute ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous alteplase thrombolysis between January 2019 and November 2022. The patients were categorized into a pulmonary infection group (40 cases) and a non-infection group (70 cases). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the following independent risk factors for pulmonary infection: age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, underlying lung disease, hypertension, mechanical ventilation, aspiration, confusion, and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (all P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of CRP ifor predicting pulmonary infection were 88.57% and 75.00%, respectively. The NIHSS score demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.14% and a specificity of 70.00%. Further stratification of patients into a good prognosis group (75 cases) and a poor prognosis group (35 cases) revealed that high NIHSS scores at admission, increased fibrinogen (FIB) levels, a thrombolysis window exceeding 3 hours, and concurrent pulmonary infection were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. The area under the ROC curve for NIHSS in predicting prognosis was 0.890, and for FIB, it was 0.854 (P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of NIHSS for predicting poor prognosis were 89.33% and 82.86%, respectively, while for FIB, they were 84.00% and 82.86%. These findings indicate that factors such as age, NIHSS score, underlying lung disease, hypertension, and elevated CRP levels significantly contribute to the risk of pulmonary infection in acute ischemic stroke patients. Clinicians should closely monitor these values to manage the risk of pulmonary infection effectively.

An Observational Study of Glycemic Status in New Onset Acute Stroke and Their Clinical Outcome in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Abstract Objective The study was aimed to test the blood glucose level in acute stroke patients to find out any correlation with types and prognosis of different glycaemic groups. Method It was a prospective observational study of patients admitted to hospital in Nizamabad due to an acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke (&lt;24Hrs after the onset). Clinical parameters including history and clinical examination findings were recorded. CT scan of brain, blood glucose level, HbA1c, and other laboratory tests were taken in all the patients. 2D echocardiography (2D-ECHO) and X-Ray chest picture were also performed. According to glycaemia, the patients were classified into four groups such as Nondiabetic/euglycemic, known Diabetics on glycemic control therapy with or without glycemic control, Newly detected diabetics, and Stress hyperglycemia patients. On the day 1 and 15 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was calculated to evaluate the severity of stroke and its outcome. Good prognosis was considered when NIHSS 5, moderate prognosis when NIHSS was 6–15, and poor prognosis when NIHSS was 16–20. Patients with NIHSS 20 died within 3 days of admission. Results Finally, 158 patients with acute stroke were included. Hemorrhagic stroke was seen in 43 (27.2%) and ischaemic stroke in 115 (72.8%) patients. Maximum cases were found in 51–60 years age group (37.9%) followed by 41–50 (20.3%) and 61–70 years age group (20.3%). Majority of study subjects were males, 65.8 % (n=104). Maximum cases were Euglycemics (44.3%), followed by stress hyperglycemic (27.8%), known diabetes (15.9%), and newly diagnosed diabetes (12%) presenting with acute stroke. Higher NIHSS score was found in stress hyperglycemic patients (19.4%) followed by known diabetics (17.3%), newly detected diabetics (16.3%), and euglycemics (9.5%). Maximum proportion (81.8%) of ischaemic stroke cases were found with stress hyperglycemia compared to other glycemic conditions but in hemorrhagic stroke maximum proportion (47.3%) were newly diagnosed diabetics. Maximum proportion of large size of lesion (47.4%) was found in newly diagnosed diabetes followed by stress hyperglycemia (45.55). Medium size of the lesions was found more in newly diagnosed diabetes (52.6%) followed by known diabetes cases (52%). Good outcome was found in 51 cases (32.2%), moderate outcome in 34 (21.5%), and poor outcome was in 30 (18.9%). 43 patients with NIHSS score &gt;20 died within 3 days of admission (27.2%). Maximum proportion of death cases in ischemic group those belongs to newly diagnosed diabetes cases (8/9=88.8%). Higher deaths were found in blood sugar &lt;110 mg/dl and blood sugar &gt;199 mg/dl with an incidence rates of 41.2% and 53.4%. Conclusion Hyperglycaemia in non-diabetic patients after acute stroke is a stress response reflecting more severe neurological damage. Elevated HbA1c presenting stroke glycaemia status has a significant trend in increasing the risk of cause mortality. The management of hyperglycaemia in patients with diabetes and non-diabetes is an important aspect of the emergency management of stroke.

Repeated intravenous thrombolysis in recurrent ischemic stroke within 3 months: a systematic review

BackgroundRepeated intravenous thrombolysis (RIVT) within 3 months is an off-guideline therapy, however, may be an effective and safe way to treat early recurrent ischemic stroke. This study was conducted to assess the potential influencing factors on the efficacy and safety of RIVT in recurrent ischemic stroke within 3 months and to explore the strategy of RIVT within 3 months.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database were searched for cases of RIVT in recurrent ischemic stroke within 3 months up to February 1, 2023. Clinical characteristics were compared and analyzed between the good-outcome and poor-outcome groups and between the symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and non-sICH groups respectively.ResultsA total of 16 studies including 24 cases of RIVT within 3 months were retrospectively analyzed in the present study. The patients’ ages ranged from 42 to 87 years (median 73.5 years) and the intervals between thrombolysis were from 0.25 to 90 days (median 9.5 days). Comparing the clinical characteristics between the good-outcome group and the poor-outcome group, no statistically significant differences were found (P > 0.05), but the differences in baseline National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score of the recurrent stroke (P = 0.056) and good outcome after the previous IVT (P = 0.054) nearly reached statistical significance. Comparing the data between the non-sICH group and the sICH group, statistically significant differences were found in terms of the proportion of cardiogenic embolism (P = 0.036), baseline NIHSS score in the recurrent stroke (P = 0.007) and the interval between thrombolysis (P = 0.041), but no significant difference was found by regression analysis.ConclusionIn patients with recurrent ischemic stroke within 3 months, those with a good outcome after the previous IVT and a low baseline NIHSS score in the recurrent stroke may be considered for RIVT, whereas those with a high baseline NIHSS score, a short interval between thrombolysis, and cardiogenic embolism may suffer a higher risk of sICH. Due to sample size and publication bias, more studies with larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Association between arterial tortuosity and early neurological deterioration in lenticulostriate artery infarction

Early neurological deterioration (END) in lenticulostriate artery (LSA) infarction is associated with perforating artery hypoperfusion. As middle cerebral artery (MCA) tortuosity may alter hemodynamics, we investigated the association between MCA tortuosity and END in LSA infarction. We reviewed patients with acute LSA infarction without significant MCA stenosis. END was defined as an increase of ≥ 2 or ≥ 1 in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) total or motor score, respectively, within first 72 h. The MCA tortuosity index (actual /straight length) was measured. Stroke mechanisms were categorized as branch atheromatous disease (BAD; lesions > 10 mm and 4 axial slices) and lipohyalinotic degeneration (LD; lesion smaller than BAD). Factors associated with END in LD and BAD were investigated. END occurred in 104/390 (26.7%) patients. A high MCA tortuosity index (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 10.63, 95% confidence interval [2.57–44.08], p = 0.001) was independently associated with END. In patients with BAD, high initial NIHSS score (aOR 1.40 [1.03–1.89], p = 0.031) and presence of parental artery disease (stenosis < 50%; aOR 10.38 [1.85–58.08], p = 0.008) were associated with END. In patients with LD, high MCA tortuosity (aOR 41.78 [7.37–237.04], p < 0.001) was associated with END. The mechanism causing END in patients with LD and BAD may differ.

Outcomes and poor prognostic factors in endovascular thrombectomy for octo‐ and nonagenarians with large vessel occlusion: A real‐world experience

AbstractEndovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the preferred treatment for eligible patients with acute large vessel occlusions (LVOs). However, its role in very elderly patients remains uncertain. This study retrospectively analysed EVT outcomes, including successful reperfusion, change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at 24 h after EVT, inpatient haemorrhagic transformation and favourable functional outcomes and mortality at 90 days after EVT in patients aged over 80 years. The primary outcome of the study was risk factors significantly associated with poorer functional outcomes at 90 days after EVT. The secondary outcomes were risk factors associated with higher NIHSS scores at 24 h after EVT and higher mortality rates at 90 days after EVT. Among the 73 octo‐ and nonagenarians, successful reperfusion was achieved in 86.3%, and up to 35.6% maintained functional independence at 90 days. Poorer outcomes were associated with internal carotid artery occlusion; risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation; higher admission NIHSS score; longer time between symptom onset and successful reperfusion and unsuccessful reperfusion. EVT is both safe and effective in our elderly population, with over one‐third of very elderly patients achieving satisfactory functional outcomes after EVT. Therefore, age alone should not be the sole criterion for excluding very elderly LVO patients from EVT. Instead, each patient should undergo individual assessment based on their premorbid condition, clinical presentation and LVO characteristics before making a treatment decision.

Relationship between Kidney Dysfunction, Stroke Severity, and Outcomes in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A Prospective Study.

Stroke is a common neurologic disease associated with fatal outcomes. Kidney dysfunction may be an important predictor of stroke severity and outcome. To determine the relationship between kidney dysfunction at admission and stroke severity and 30-day outcome. This was a prospective study that involved 150 stroke patients. Stroke severity at admission was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Renal dysfunction was assessed by the presence of albuminuria and or reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at admission. Neurological outcome was assessed using mortality, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GCS). The mean age of the study participants was 61.0 ± 13.2 years. Renal dysfunction was present in 66% of the participants while the case fatality rate of stroke was 26%. Poor neurological outcome at 30 days was found in 44.1% of survivors. Those with albuminuria had lower GCS (P = 0.041), lower GFR (P = 0.004), higher mRS score on day 14 (P = 0.041) and day 30 (P = 0.032), and higher NIHSS score (P = 0.034). Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were albuminuria (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR) 3.60, 95%CI: 1.07-12.17) and increasing NIHSS score (AOR = 1.15, 95%CI: 1.04-1.28). Lower GCS (P < 0.001), elevated white blood cells (P = 0.003), serum creatinine (P = 0.048), and NIHSS score (P < 0.001) were associated with poor neurological outcome. NIHSS score was the only significant predictor of neurologic outcome (AOR: 1.25; CI: 1.11-1.41; P ≤ 0.001). Kidney dysfunction was associated with stroke severity and mortality. However, it was not an independent predictor of neurological outcome.