Prior History Of Stroke Research Articles

Long-term outcome of percutaneous or surgical revascularization with and without prior stroke in patients with three-vessel disease.

To determine whether high-risk patients with three-vessel disease (TVD) with and without prior stroke preferentially benefit from three strategies [percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and medical therapy (MT)]. A total of 8943 patients with TVD were included in the study. Patients enrolled were stratified into two categories according to the presence or absence of prior stroke history. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. Secondary endpoints included stroke and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event (MACCE), a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), unplanned revascularization and stroke. Prior stroke was present in 888 patients (9.9%). These patients were older and had higher rates of comorbidities. During a median follow-up of 7.5 years, patients with prior stroke were strongly associated with increased risks of all-cause death, cardiac death, stroke and MACCE, even after adjusting for confounding variables and results been consistent across either treatment subgroup (PCI, CABG and MT) (all adjusted P < 0.01). Notably, there was a significant interaction between prior stroke history and treatment strategies. Revascularization strategy (PCI or CABG) was associated with a lower incidence of all-cause death and MACCE compared with MT alone, and favorable rates of MACCE, MI and unplanned revascularization in the CABG group compared with the PCI group, but with similar rate of all-cause death regardless of prior stroke history. The prevalence of stroke was significantly higher after CABG when compared with PCI or MT in no prior stroke patients [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.429, 95% CI: 1.132-1.805 for CABG vs. MT; HR = 1.703, 95% CI: 1.371-2.116 for CABG vs. PCI]. Patients with TVD and prior stroke have poor clinical outcomes. It is essential to balance benefit and risk when determining the optimal treatment strategy for TVD with and without prior stroke.

Predicting stroke in heart failure and reduced ejection fraction without atrial fibrillation.

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are at significant risk of stroke. Anticoagulation reduces this risk in patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF), but the risk-to-benefit balance in the latter group, overall, is not favourable. Identification of patients with HFrEF, without AF, at the highest risk of stroke may allow targeted and safer use of prophylactic anticoagulant therapy. In a pooled patient-level cohort of the PARADIGM-HF, ATMOSPHERE, and DAPA-HF trials, a previously derived simple risk model for stroke, consisting of three variables (history of prior stroke, insulin-treated diabetes, and plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level), was validated. Of the 20 159 patients included, 12 751 patients did not have AF at baseline. Among patients without AF, 346 (2.7%) experienced a stroke over a median follow up of 2.0 years (rate 11.7 per 1000 patient-years). The risk for stroke increased with increasing risk score: fourth quintile hazard ratio (HR) 2.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60-3.45]; fifth quintile HR 3.73 (95% CI 2.58-5.38), with the first quintile as reference. For patients in the top quintile, the rate of stroke was 21.2 per 1000 patient-years, similar to participants with AF not receiving anticoagulation (20.1 per 1000 patient-years). Model discrimination was good with a C-index of 0.84 (0.75-0.91). It is possible to identify a subset of HFrEF patients without AF with a stroke-risk equivalent to that of patients with AF who are not anticoagulated. In these patients, the risk-to-benefit balance might justify the use of prophylactic anticoagulation, but this hypothesis needs to be tested prospectively.

Clinical and neuroimaging risk factors associated with the development of intracerebral hemorrhage while taking direct oral anticoagulants.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) usage confers significant mortality/disability. We aimed to understand the clinical and neuroimaging features associated with developing ICH among DOAC users. Clinical and radiological data were collected from consecutive DOAC users with ICH (DOAC-ICH) and age-matched controls without ICH from a single referral center. The frequency/distribution of MRI markers of hemorrhage risk were assessed. Baseline demographics and neuroimaging markers were compared in univariate tests. Significant associations (p < 0.1) were entered into a multivariable regression model to determine predictors of ICH. 86 DOAC-ICH and 94 ICH-free patients were included. Diabetes, coronary artery disease, prior ischemic stroke, smoking history, and antiplatelet usage were more common in ICH patients than ICH-free DOAC users. In the neuroimaging analyses, severe white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cortical superficial siderosis (cSS), and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) were more common in the ICH cohort than the ICH-free cohort. In the multivariable regression, diabetes [OR 3.53 95% CI (1.05-11.87)], prior ischemic stroke [OR 14.80 95% CI (3.33-65.77)], smoking history [OR 3.08 95% CI (1.05-9.01)], CMBs [OR 4.07 95% CI (1.45-11.39)], and cSS [OR 39.73 95% CI (3.43-460.24)] were independently associated with ICH. Risk factors including diabetes, prior stroke, and smoking history as well as MRI biomarkers including CMBs and cSS are associated with ICH in DOAC users. Although screening MRIs are not typically performed prior to initiating DOAC therapy, these data suggest that patients of high-hemorrhagic risk may be identified.

Geodemographic mapping of stroke in Recife

This study delineates demographic maps of stroke in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methods: Data of patients from Recife with stroke treated at a tertiary, specialist hospital, which is part of the Brazilian Unified Health System, during the period from December 2011 to June 2014, underwent epidemiological characterization and demographic mapping. Results: Patients from Recife accounted for 20.6% of the visits to the unit. Data from 148 patients were analyzed. Stroke was predominant in patients over 60 years of age, in women, and in the presence of risk factors. In total, only 11.9% of patients were admitted within the acute therapeutic window. The percentage was 9% for ischemic stroke and 27.8% for hemorrhagic stroke. The cases of hemorrhagic stroke exceeded those of ischemic stroke 3-fold, and the young adult population was admitted earlier when compared to older age groups. Although it was less frequent than ischemic stroke, in patients from Recife, hemorrhagic stroke was responsible for almost two thirds of deaths. More than half of the patients treated with ischemic stroke had a history of prior stroke (69.6%). Political-Administrative Regions 4, 5, and 6 had the highest frequencies of stroke. Conclusions: Only part of patients treated were from the municipality where the unit is located, and, in this context, the Hospital Pelópidas Silveira primarily serves the South, West, and Southwest regions of Recife. Optimizing referral flows and implementing strategies to expedite the care of patients within the therapeutic window are necessary. In order to make the most of the unit’s tertiary, specialized characteristics, the implementation of district-based registration of users and electronic cerebrovascular medical records can ensure completeness of information about stroke, in addition to organized attitudes for primary and secondary prevention and rational referral/counter-referral

Predictors of Post-Stroke Depression: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Despite reports of a high incidence and various predictors of post-stroke depression (PSD), the underdiagnosis and undertreatment rates of PSD are still high. This study aimed to examine the incidence of depression in stroke patients and identify factors associated with PSD. This was a retrospective cohort study on ischemic stroke patients from the Geisinger Neuroscience Ischemic Stroke (GNSIS) registry. The following statistical analyses were performed to predict PSD in the studied population: a Kaplan–Meier estimator and a Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 5882 patients were included in the study. The median age at the time of an ischemic stroke was 72 years and 56% were males. A total of 294 patients were diagnosed with PSD within one year of a stroke. The cumulative incidence of depression was found to be 6.4% (95% CI 5.7–7.1%) at one year for the entire cohort. Women were found to have a higher risk of PSD than men (HR for women = 1.47, 95% CI 1.18–1.85, p = 0.001). A history of prior stroke (HR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.18–2.11, p = 0.002) and myocardial infarction (HR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05–2.06, p = 0.025) were associated with PSD. Medicaid patients had a higher risk for PSD (HR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.5–3.12, p < 0.001) than those with commercial insurance or health maintenance organization plans. Our findings showed that women, patients with a history of prior stroke or myocardial infarction, and with Medicaid insurance were more likely to develop PSD. Through an observational study on the EHR data, we confirmed that chronic stress, including financial and health-related stress, irrespective of age, significantly increased the risk for PSD.

A Case-Control Study of Distinguishing Between Stroke Mimics and True Strokes.

This study was conducted with the primary aim to distinguish patients with a true stroke versus a stroke mimic based on clinical features and imaging. We conducted a retrospective case–control study on 116 adult patients who received alteplase (tPA) to treat acute stroke at our hospital. We further analyzed 79 patients with a normal computed tomography angiography (CTA). Based on their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, they were divided into cases (stroke mimics) and controls (true strokes).Data were collected retrospectively by reviewing individual medical charts on the electronic medical record (EMR), including age, gender, history of stroke, seizure, hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hyperlipidemia, presenting NIH Stroke Scale/Score, hemorrhagic conversion, history of migraine, history of depression, sidedness of symptoms and aphasia. Data were categorized to separate those who were later diagnosed to be stroke mimics by being-postictal, encephalopathic, in acute migraine, suffered post-stroke recrudescence (PSR) due to metabolic insult, or had conversion disorder when symptoms could not be attributed to any medical condition or mental illness.Of the 79 study subjects, 48 (60%) were stroke mimics. The mean age of the cohort was 68.67 years, and 46.8% of the study subjects were females. Based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with being a stroke mimic were older age, history of migraine, and a history of prior stroke. In conclusion, increased attention to history and clinical examination as the first step can aid in the proper diagnosis of strokes versus stroke mimics.Identifying stroke mimics early could help expedite hospital workup and prevent inadvertent investigations, reducing hospital occupancy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We could potentially avoid the administration of tPA to such patients, reducing both the cost and adverse effects of it. Every stroke can cause neurological deficits, but every deficit need not be a stroke.

Health outcomes after acute ischemic stroke:retrospective and survival analysis from Oman.

BACKGROUND: Stroke mortality and related functional disability have been declining over the last two decades, but stroke continues to represent the second leading cause of cardiovascular death worldwide and the number one cause for acquired long-term disability.OBJECTIVES: Assess short- and long-term health outcomes after acute ischemic stroke and analyze factors associated with poor survival and functional outcomes.DESIGN: Retrospective and survival analysisSETTING: Inpatient unit at a tertiary care referral hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke from 1 January 2017 to 31 August 2018 were included in the study. Functional status was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Other demographic and clinical variables were obtained from medical records. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards, and the Kaplan-Meier method. Long-term follow-up data, including mortality and mRS was collected by follow-up phone call.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional dependency and factors associated with mortality.SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS: 110 with mean age of 67.0 (14.7) years; 59 patients (53.6%) were males.RESULTS: Hypertension (75.5%), diabetes mellitus (54.6%), and dyslipidemia (29.1%) were common. Sixty-five patients (59.1%) had mRS >2 upon discharge including 18 patients (16.4%) who died during the hospital stay. The cumulative mortality rate was 25.4% (28/110) at 12 months and 30.0% (33/110) at 24 months. Twenty-nine stroke survivors (29/70, 41.4%) remained physically dependent (mRS >2) at the end of follow-up. Old age, atrial fibrillation, history of prior stroke, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease were associated with increased mortality and functional dependence.CONCLUSIONS: Patients in Oman with acute ischemic stroke tend to have a high comorbidity burden, and their functional dependency and mortality are higher compared to patients from developed countries. Therefore, evidence-based measures such as establishing stroke units are essential to improve the health outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke.LIMITATIONS: Retrospective at single center.CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

P1482: PATIENTS WITH SEVERE SICKLE CELL DISEASE ON STANDARD OF CARE TREATMENT ARE VERY UNLIKELY TO BECOME VOC FREE FOR ONE YEAR: A COHORT STUDY OF MEDICAID ENROLLEES

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have frequent vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), which impact their quality of life, contribute to organ damage and failure, and are associated with increased mortality. An ongoing, open-label Ph3 clinical trial with CTX001, an investigational, autologous, ex vivo CRISPR/Cas-9-based gene edited therapy, in patients with severe SCD, is evaluating the proportion of patients who become VOC-free for at least 1 year after CTX001 treatment. Thus, it is important to know the proportion of patients with severe SCD on standard-of-care (SOC) who become VOC-free over time to provide context for the efficacy of CTX001 in eliminating VOCs in severe SCD. Aims: To contextualize the efficacy of CTX001 in eliminating VOCs in patients with severe SCD, we used nationwide Medicaid claims data from 2000 to 2014 to assess the proportion of patients on SOC who became VOC-free during a 1-year follow-up. The inclusion/exclusion criteria were similar to those of the Ph3 clinical trial of CTX001 in patients with severe SCD. Methods: A cohort of patients 12-35 years old with SCD was identified based on ≥1 inpatient claim or ≥2 outpatient claims for SCD after at least 2 years of continuous Medicaid enrollment. The date patients met the SCD case algorithm was defined as the cohort entry date. The 2-year period preceding the cohort entry date was defined as the baseline period. Consistent with the inclusion criteria in the CTX001 Ph3 trial, we restricted this population to severe SCD defined by ≥2 VOCs per year in each of 2 consecutive years (total of ≥4 VOCs over 2 years) at baseline. A VOC was identified using ICD diagnosis codes in hospitalization and ER visit claims for acute pain crisis, acute chest syndrome, priapism, and splenic sequestration. Additional exclusion criteria that were operationalizable using claims data included prior bone marrow transplant, moyamoya syndrome or history of stroke, low left heart function, low lung diffusing capacity (including pulmonary hypertension), advanced liver disease, decreased kidney function, significant bleeding disorder, prior malignancy or myelodysplasia, and select infections. We further restricted the cohort to patients with 1-year of continuous Medicaid enrollment (or less if any deaths) following the cohort entry. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with 0 VOCs during a 1-year follow-up. Results: A total of 5,874 patients with severe SCD were identified [mean (SD) age: 20.5 (6.0) years, 54.4% female, 87% African Americans]. Patients had a mean of 5.1 VOCs, 4.7 ER visits and 3.6 all-cause hospitalizations per year during the 2-year baseline period. Hydroxyurea was used in 37.5%, opioid analgesics in 88.7%, and NSAIDs in 71.9%. The proportion of patients with 0 VOCs during the 1-year follow-up was 9.1% (95% CI: 8.4, 9.9). When stratified by the number of VOCs at baseline, patients with higher numbers of VOCs had a lower proportion of 0 VOCs in the 1-year follow-up (Table). Image:Summary/Conclusion: Fewer than 10% of patients with severe SCD with at least 2 VOCs per year in the prior 2 years at baseline became VOC-free for 1 year with SOC in this nationwide cohort of Medicaid enrollees. This demonstrates that patients with severe SCD are very unlikely to become VOC-free over a 1-year period and provides context for the efficacy of gene therapies in eliminating VOCs. These data also highlight the urgent need to develop effective therapies for patients with severe SCD as ~90% of patients continue to have VOCs, which are life-limiting and life-threatening events.

Costs of acute hospitalisation for stroke and transient ischaemic attack in Australia.

Stroke is a high-cost condition. Detailed patient-level assessments of the costs of care received and outcomes achieved provide useful information for organisation and optimisation of the health system. To describe the costs of hospital care for stroke and transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and investigate factors associated with costs. Retrospective cohort study using data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) collected between 2009 and 2013 linked to hospital administrative data and clinical costing data in Queensland. Clinical costing data include standardised assignment of costs from hospitals that contribute to the National Hospital Costing programme. Patient-level costs for each hospital admission were described according to the demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics of patients. Multivariable median regression with clustering by hospital was used to determine factors associated with greater costs. Among 22 hospitals, clinical costing data were available for 3909 of 5522 patient admissions in the AuSCR (71%). Compared to those without clinical costing data, patients with clinical costing data were more often aged <65years (30% with cost data vs 24% without cost data, p < 0.001) and male (56% with cost data vs 49% without cost data, p < 0.001). Median cost of an acute episode was $7945 (interquartile range $4176 to $14970) and the median length of stay was 5days (interquartile range 2 to 10days). The most expensive cost buckets were related to medical (n = 3897, median cost $1577), nursing (n = 3908, median cost $2478) and critical care (n = 434, median cost $3064). Factors associated with greater total costs were a diagnosis of intracerebral haemorrhage, greater socioeconomic position, in-hospital stroke and prior history of stroke. Medical and nursing costs were incurred by most patients admitted with stroke or TIA, and were relatively more expensive on average than other cost buckets such as imaging and allied health. Scaling this data linkage to national data collections may provide valuable insights into activity-based funding at public hospitals. Regular report of these costs should be encouraged to optimise economic evaluations.

Impaired heart rate variability triangular index predicts stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science Foundation Introduction Despite the broad use of oral anticoagulants, stroke remains one of the most serious complications in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Stroke has been linked to disturbances of the autonomic nervous system as both share similar risk factors. Therefore, impaired cardiac autonomic function may indicate an enhanced stroke risk. Purpose We hypothesized that impaired cardiac autonomic function, quantified by means of heart rate variability (HRV), might be useful in predicting stroke in patients with AF. Methods We enrolled 1,933 patients with a documented history of AF from the multicenter Swiss-AF cohort study who were either in sinus rhythm (SR-group, n=1130) or AF (AF-group, n=803) on a 5-minute resting ECG recording. HRV triangular index (HRVI), standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals, root mean square root of successive differences of normal-to-normal intervals, mean heart rate, 5-min total power and power in the high frequency, low frequency and very low frequency range were calculated. We constructed cox regression models to analyze the predictive power of HRV parameters for the composite endpoint stroke or systemic embolism. Results Mean age was 71±8 years in the SR group and 75±8 in the AF group, 28% of the total study cohort were female. 36 patients in the SR group (3.2%) and 58 patients in the AF group (6.5%) experienced a stroke or systemic embolism during a follow-up time of 4.0±1.3 years. In patients with sinus rhythm, HRVI &amp;lt;15 was the only HRV parameter independently associated with stroke or systemic embolism (hazard ratio 2.94; 95% confidence interval 1.3-6.8; p=0.011) after adjustment for multiple clinical confounders (age, sex, AF type, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, history of chronic kidney disease, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, intake of oral anticoagulation, antiarrhythmics or betablockers). In the AF group, no HRV parameter was associated with the composite endpoint. Conclusions HRVI measured during SR on a single 5-minute ECG recording is an independent predictor of stroke or systemic embolism in AF patients. HRV analysis may help to improve risk stratification in AF patients.

Effect of Intensive Blood Pressure Control on Incident Stroke Risk in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Patients with mild cognitive impairment may be at higher risk of incident stroke, but the effect of intensive blood pressure (BP) control on that risk has not been explored. We performed a post hoc analysis of SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) and included patients with a baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 19 to 25 and without a prior history of stroke. The primary outcome was incident stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) during follow-up. We report the unadjusted cumulative risk of our primary outcome by SPRINT randomization arm (intensive versus standard BP control) and also fit Cox models to the primary outcome and adjusted for patient age at randomization, race/ethnicity, sex, baseline BP, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and smoking. We included 5091 patients (mean age 68.2, 44% female, 56.7% non-Hispanic White, and 50.2% randomized to intensive BP control), of which 95/5091 (1.9%) had an incident stroke during a mean of 3.8±0.9 years of follow-up. The risk of incident stroke in patients randomized to standard BP control was 57/2536 (2.3%) and to intensive BP control was 38/2555 (1.5%; P=0.045). In the adjusted Cox model, the hazard ratio for incident stroke events with intensive BP control was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.43-0.98; P=0.040). Although the SPRINT trial failed to show a reduction in stroke with intensive BP control for all subjects, those with a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score consistent with mild cognitive impairment at baseline had an association between intensive BP control and lower risk of incident stroke. Future trials of primary prevention of stroke may benefit from enrichment using baseline vascular biomarkers of elevated risk, such as mild cognitive impairment.

CE-543-03 EARLY RHYTHM CONTROL IN PATIENTS WITH INCIDENT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION WHO HAD A PRIOR HISTORY OF STROKE: A NATIONWIDE POPULATION-BASED COHORT STUDY

Early rhythm control therapy has been demonstrated to be associated with a lower risk of stroke compared to usual care in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there are limited data regarding the benefit of early rhythm control therapy for secondary prevention for stroke in patients with AF. To compare the risk of recurrent stroke between early rhythm control therapy and usual care in patients with new-onset AF and a history of prior stroke. Using the Korean nationwide claims database, we identified patients who were newly diagnosed as AF and had a history of prior stroke. Patients who received rhythm control therapy, including antiarrhythmic drug (AAD), direct current cardioversion (DCC), or AF catheter ablation, within 1 year after incident AF were defined as the early rhythm control group, otherwise as the usual care group. The propensity score weighting method was used to balance baseline characteristics between the two groups. Incident stroke was evaluated as a primary outcome. A total of 53,509 patients were included (mean age 72±11 years, 53% men; mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 5.5±1.6). All patients were prescribed oral anticoagulants. Among the total study population, 12,455 patients were assigned to the early rhythm control group (AAD, DCC, and AF catheter ablation in 99.4%, 8.6%, and 3.9%, respectively), and 41,054 patients were in the usual care group. During a median 2.6 years (IQR 1.5 to 4.5 years) of follow-up, 4382 patients had an incident stroke (IR, 2.6 per 100 person-years). Early rhythm control was associated with a lower risk of recurrent stroke compared to usual care (hazard ratio, 0.720, 95% confidence interval, 0.666-0.779, p<0.001) (Figure). Early rhythm control consistently showed a lower risk of stroke than usual care regardless of the characteristics of prior stroke, whether recent, severe, and disabling stroke or not. In this large-scale observational cohort study, early rhythm control within 1 year after AF diagnosis might be beneficial to prevent recurrent stroke in patients with incident AF and a history of prior stroke. Integrated care, including optimal rhythm control with appropriate anticoagulation, should be considered for patients who had incident AF and a history of stroke to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke.

Predictors of Radiographic and Symptomatic Hemorrhagic Conversion Following Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion.

BackgroundEndovascular therapy is known to achieve a high rate of recanalization in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to large vessel occlusion (LVO) and is currently the standard of care. Hemorrhagic conversion is a severe complication that may occur following AIS in patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). There is a scarcity of data on the risk factors related to HV in post-EVT patients, especially those who develop symptomatic hemorrhagic conversion. The main objective of our study is to identify independent predictors of radiographic and symptomatic hemorrhagic conversion in our diverse patient population with multiple baseline comorbidities that presented with AIS and were treated with EVT as per the most updated guidelines and practices.MethodologyThis is a retrospective chart review in which we enrolled adult patients treated with EVT for AIS at a comprehensive stroke center in the Bronx, NY, over a four-year period. Bivariate analyses followed by multiple logistic regression modeling were performed to determine the independent predictors of all and symptomatic hemorrhagic conversion.ResultsA total of 326 patients who underwent EVT for AIS were enrolled. Of these, 74 (22.7%) had an HC, while 252 (77.3%) did not. In total, 25 out of the 74 (33.7%) patients were symptomatic. In the logistic regression model, a history of prior ischemic stroke (odds ratio (OR) = 2.197; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.062-4.545; p-value = 0.034), Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) of <6 (OR = 2.207; 95% CI = 1.477-7.194; p-value = 0.019), and Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2B-3 recanalization (OR = 2.551; 95% CI = 1.998-6.520; p-value=0.045) were found to be independent predictors of all types of hemorrhagic conversion. The only independent predictor of symptomatic hemorrhagic conversion on multiple logistic regression modeling was an elevated international normalized ratio (INR) (OR = 11.051; 95% CI = 1.866-65.440; p-value = 0.008).ConclusionsHistory of prior ischemic stroke, low ASPECTS score, and TICI 2B-3 recanalization are independent predictors of hemorrhagic conversion while an elevated INR is the only independent predictor of symptomatic hemorrhagic conversion in post-thrombectomy patients.

One-Year Clinical Outcome in Middle Eastern Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The Jordan Atrial Fibrillation (JoFib) Study.

Background Prevention of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has radically changed in recent years. Data on contemporary utilization of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and cardiovascular outcome in Middle Eastern patients with AF are needed. Methods The Jordan atrial fibrillation (JoFib) study enrolled consecutive patients with AF in Jordan from May 2019 through October 2020 and were followed up for one year after enrollment. Results Overall, 2020 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 67.9 + 13.0 years. Nonvalvular (NVAF) was diagnosed in 1849 (91.5%) patients. OACs were used in 85.7% of high-risk patients with NVAF (CHA2DS2-VASc score>3 in women, and>2 in men), including direct OACs (DOACs) in 64.1% and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in 35.9%. Adherence rate to the use of the same OAC agent was 90.6% of patients. One-year cardiovascular (CV) mortality was 7.8%, stroke/SE was 4.5%, and major bleeding events were 2.6%. Independent predictors for all-cause mortality in patients with NVAF were age>75 years, heart failure, major bleeding event, type 2 diabetes mellitus, study enrollment as an in-patient, and coronary heart disease. The use of OACs was associated with lower all-cause mortality. The strongest independent predictors for stroke/SE were high-risk CHA2DS2-VASc score and prior history of stroke. Conclusions This study of Middle Eastern AF patients has reported high adherence to OACs. The use of OACs was associated with a lower risk for all-cause mortality. One-year rates of stroke and major bleeding events were comparable to those reported from other regions in the world.

Free flap reconstruction of plantar weight-bearing heel defects: Long-term functional and patient-reported outcomes.

Non-healing plantar weight-bearing heel ulcers are a challenging problem to treat. Free tissue transfer (FTT) reconstruction of the heel is an opportunity for limb salvage to preserve gait and ambulation. The aim of this study is to describe surgical and functional outcomes in patients who underwent FTT to treat chronic heel ulcers. A retrospective review of patients who underwent FTT for plantar heel ulcers from 2011 to 2021 was conducted. Patient demographics, comorbidities, perioperative data, postoperative complications, and long-term outcomes were recorded. Primary outcomes included flap success, complications, postoperative ambulation, patient-reported outcome measures and limb salvage, with patients stratified into limb salvage or eventual amputation groups. Forty-four patients underwent 45 heel reconstructions. Average age and BMI were 57.3 years and 30.1kg/m2 , respectively. Thirty-eight patients (86.4%) had calcaneal osteomyelitis, 35 patients (79.5%) had diabetes, and 18 patients (40.9%) had peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Immediate microsurgical success rate was 95.6%. At mean follow-up of 19.6 ± 20.9months, overall limb salvage rate was 73.3% (n=33). Preoperative albumin levels were higher in limb salvage group compared to the amputation group (3.0 vs. 2.4g/dl, p=.018). Prior stroke history and hypoalbuminemia were significantly higher in the amputation group compared to limb salvage group (p=.012 and p=.018, respectively). Risk for eventual amputation was associated with PVD (OR 4.0, p=.053), hypoalbuminemia (OR 4.9, p=.020), and postoperative infection (OR 6.3, p=.013). Of the 12 amputations that occurred, the most common indication for amputation was infection (n=8, 66.7%), which most often occurred at the original wound location (62.5%). At most recent follow-up, 90.7% of patients (n=39) were ambulatory. FTT is an effective alternative to amputation in patients with chronic heel ulcers. Proper patient selection, preoperative optimization, and postoperative care are imperative to the success of this limb salvage procedure.

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Undertreatment of Anticoagulant Therapy in Hospitalized Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with the initiation of oral anticoagulation among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and concurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) at discharge in China.MethodsWe continuously included hospitalized patients with AIS with an AF diagnosis registered in the computer-based Online Database of Acute Stroke Patients for Stroke Management Quality Evaluation (CASE II) from January 2016 to December 2020 and divided them into a and non-anticoagulant groups according to the medications at discharge. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with the prescription of anticoagulants in patients with AF.ResultsA total of 16,162 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 77 ± 9 years, 8,596 (53.2%) were males, and the median baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 5 (2–12). Of the 14,838 patients without contraindications of antithrombotic therapy, 6,335 (42.7%) patients were initiated with anticoagulation treatment at discharge. Prior history of hemorrhagic stroke (OR 0.647, p < 0.001) and gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 0.607, p = 0.003) were associated with a lower rate of anticoagulation at discharge. Patients with any intracranial hemorrhage (OR 0.268, p < 0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 0.353, p < 0.001), or pneumonia during hospitalization (OR 0.601, p < 0.001) were less likely to receive anticoagulants at discharge. Among 7,807 patients with previously diagnosed AF and high risk of stroke (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2), only 1,585 (20.3%) had been receiving anticoagulation treatment prior to the onset of stroke. However, the mean international normalized ratio (INR) was 1.5 on the first test during hospitalization in patients receiving warfarin. Patients complicated with a previous history of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA; OR 2.303, p < 0.001) and peripheral artery disease (OR 1.456, p = 0.003) were more common to start anticoagulants.ConclusionsLess than half of patients with AIS and concurrent AF initiated guideline-recommended oral anticoagulation at discharge, while only 20% of patients with previously diagnosed AF with a high risk of stroke had been using anticoagulants prior to the onset of stroke, which highlights a large care gap in hospitalized stroke patients and the importance of AF management.

Serum S100B and NSE Levels Correlate With Infarct Size and Bladder-Bowel Involvement Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Objectives Stroke is a major global health concern. Due to limited availability of neuroimaging particularly in rural and regional areas in India as well as its limitation, the interest in use of biochemical markers for stroke diagnosis, severity, and prognosis is increasing. Only a handful of studies on stroke biomarkers have been conducted in India. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the correlation of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) levels with stroke severity according to infarct size in acute ischemic stroke patients. Material and Methods Sixty stroke patients were recruited for the study and were evaluated. Noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain was performed for all patients within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. Infarct volume was measured by evaluating dimensions in three planes on CT head. Serum NSE and S100B levels were measured by commercially available immunoassay kits. Continuous data was represented as mean ± standard deviation. Categorical data was expressed in terms of percentages and proportions. Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to assess correlation between NSE and S100B and infarct size. Infarct size was classified arbitrarily into three groups according to infarct volume (low, moderate, and large) and analysis of variance was applied for comparing mean S100B and NSE levels in the three groups. To assess the independent predictors of infarct size among stroke cases, multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. Association between serum S100B or NSE levels and clinical features was done by the Mann–Whitney U test. Results Correlation between serum S100B protein levels and NSE with larger infarct volume was highly significant ( r (S100B) = 0.611, p (S100B) < 0.0001; r (NSE) = 0.258, p (NSE) = 0.047). Using multivariate regression analysis, bladder and bowel involvement, prior stroke history, and dyslipidemia among stroke patients correlated with a larger infarct size. Mann–Whitney U test showed both NSE and S100B levels were significantly associated with bladder bowel involvement among stroke cases. Conclusion There was a positive correlation between serum S100B and NSE levels with infarct size. In addition, bladder-bowel involvement among stroke patients was associated with increased S100B levels. Therefore, levels of protein S100B and NSE may serve as indicator of infarct size and may be predictors of severe clinical presentations of acute ischemic stroke.

COVID-19 and Risk of Acute Ischemic Stroke Among Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 65 Years or Older: Self-Controlled Case Series Study.

Findings of association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and stroke remain inconsistent, ranging from significant association to absence of association to less than expected ischemic stroke among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The current study examined the association between COVID-19 and risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We included 37,379 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries aged ≥65 years diagnosed with COVID-19 from April 1, 2020, through February 28, 2021, and AIS hospitalization from January 1, 2019, through February 28, 2021. We used a self-controlled case series design to examine the association between COVID-19 and AIS and estimated the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) by comparing incidence of AIS in risk periods (0-3, 4-7, 8-14, 15-28 days after diagnosis of COVID-19) vs control periods. Among 37,379 Medicare FFS beneficiaries with COVID-19 and AIS, the median age at diagnosis of COVID-19 was 80.4 (interquartile range 73.5-87.1) years and 56.7% were women. When AIS at day of exposure (day = 0) was included in the risk periods, IRRs at 0-3, 4-7, 8-14, and 15-28 days following COVID-19 diagnosis were 10.3 (95% confidence interval 9.86-10.8), 1.61 (1.44-1.80), 1.44 (1.32-1.57), and 1.09 (1.02-1.18); when AIS at day 0 was excluded in the risk periods, the corresponding IRRs were 1.77 (1.57-2.01) (day 1-3), 1.60 (1.43-1.79), 1.43 (1.31-1.56), and 1.09 (1.01-1.17), respectively. The association appeared to be stronger among younger beneficiaries and among beneficiaries without prior history of stroke but largely consistent across sex and race/ethnicities. Risk of AIS among Medicare FFS beneficiaries was 10 times (day 0 cases in the risk period) as high during the first 3 days after diagnosis of COVID-19 as during the control period and the risk associated with COVID-19 appeared to be stronger among those aged 65-74 years and those without prior history of stroke. This study provides Class IV evidence that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with increased risk of AIS in the first 3 days after diagnosis in Medicare FFS beneficiaries ≥65 years of age.

Abstract TMP16: Covid-19 And Risk Of Acute Ischemic Stroke Among Medicare Beneficiaries: Self-controlled Case Series Study

Introduction: Findings of association between COVID-19 and stroke remain inconsistent, ranging from significant association, absence of association to less than expected ischemic stroke among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The present study examined the association between COVID-19 and risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We included 19,553 Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries aged ≥65 years diagnosed with COVID-19 between April 1 and November 30, 2020 and AIS hospitalization from January 1, 2019 through November 30, 2020. We used a self-controlled case series design to examine the association between COVID-19 and AIS and estimated the incident rate ratios (IRR) by comparing incidence of AIS in risk periods (0-3, 4-7, 8-14, 15-28 days after diagnosis of COVID-19) vs. control periods. Results: Among 19,553 Medicare FFS beneficiaries with COVID-19 and AIS, the median age at diagnosis of COVID-19 was 80.5 (interquartile range 73.6-87.3) years and 57.5% were women. IRRs at 0-3, 4-7, 8-14, and 15-28 days following COVID-19 diagnosis were 10.97 (95% confidence interval 10.30-11.68), 1.59 (1.35-1.87), 1.23 (1.07-1.41), and 1.06 (0.95-1.18), respectively. The association appeared to be stronger among younger beneficiaries and among beneficiaries without prior history of stroke but largely consistent across sex and race/ethnicities. Conclusions: Risk of AIS among Medicare FFS beneficiaries was ten times as high during the first 3 days after diagnosis of COVID-19 as during the control period and the risk associated with COVID-19 appeared to be stronger among those aged 65-74 years and those without prior history of stroke.