Pre-stroke Dependency Research Articles

Stroke Measures Analysis of pRognostic Testing-Mortality nomogram predicts long-term mortality after ischemic stroke.

Predicting long-term mortality is essential for understanding prognosis and guiding treatment decisions in patients with ischemic stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate the method for predicting 1- and 5-year mortality after ischemic stroke. We used data from the linked dataset comprising the administrative claims database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and the Clinical Research Center for Stroke registry data for patients with acute stroke within 7 days of onset. The outcome was all-cause mortality following ischemic stroke. Clinical variables linked to long-term mortality following ischemic stroke were determined. A nomogram was constructed based on the Cox's regression analysis. The performance of the risk prediction model was evaluated using the Harrell's C-index. This study included 42,207 ischemic stroke patients, with a mean age of 66.6 years and 59.2% being male. The patients were randomly divided into training (n = 29,916) and validation (n = 12,291) groups. Variables correlated with long-term mortality in patients with ischemic stroke, including age, sex, body mass index, stroke severity, stroke mechanisms, onset-to-door time, pre-stroke dependency, history of stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, smoking, fasting glucose level, previous statin therapy, thrombolytic therapy, such as intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular recanalization therapy, medications, and discharge modified Rankin Scale were identified as predictors. We developed a predictive system named Stroke Measures Analysis of pRognostic Testing-Mortality (SMART-M) by constructing a nomogram using the identified features. The C-statistics of the nomogram in the developing and validation groups were 0.806 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.802-0.812) and 0.803 (95% CI, 0.795-0.811), respectively. The SMART-M method demonstrated good performance in predicting long-term mortality in ischemic stroke patients. This method may help physicians and family members understand the long-term outcomes and guide the appropriate decision-making process.

Blood-based frailty index in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment.

Frailty is a syndrome depicting vulnerability of multiple physiological systems to stressors. Frailty measures, such as Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS), can be used to identify frailty and predict outcome more reliably. Our aim was to analyse a blood-based frailty index (FI-B) at admission for prediction outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT). We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive AIS patients undergoing EVT in a single tertiary centre during a period of five years. A set of eighteen blood parameters at admission were collected and nine of these were utilized to calculate FI-B. We analysed the relationship between FI-B and HFRS. We examined the baseline characteristics of the study population based on FI-B-tertiles. Multivariable regression models were employed to ascertain the association between FI-B and in-hospital mortality, 3-month mortality and 3-month functional outcome. The final study population comprised 489 patients, with a median age of 75.6 years, 49.5% of patients were male. The FI-B exhibited a weak positive correlation with HFRS (rho=0.113, p=0.016). Patients in higher FI-B-tertiles were older and more frequently presented with pre-stroke functional dependence and comorbidities. Moreover, an increasing FI-B was independently associated with increased likelihood of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.29, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]=1.14-1.47), 3-month mortality (aOR=1.26, 95%CI=1.11-1.43), and of increasing 3-month functional disability measured by utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale (common aOR=0.84, 95%CI=0.76-0.93). A frailty index based on blood values at admission was able to identify frailty in AIS patients undergoing EVT and was an independent predictor of short- and medium-term outcome after stroke.

Abstract TP208: Pre-Existing Dementia Should Not Be Independently Associated Short-Term Functional Outcome in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Sub-Analysis of the PASTA Registry Study

Background: The aging of the population is associated with an increasing number of stroke patients with pre-existing dementia. However, the association between pre-stroke dementia and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has not been fully investigated. We aimed to investigate the association between PED and functional outcome in patients with AIS. Methods: We conducted a sub-analysis of the PASTA registry, an observational, multicenter registry of 1,043 patients with stroke receiving oral anticoagulants in Japan, by including patients with AIS with atrial fibrillation (AF). PED was defined as any type of dementia that was present prior to the index stroke. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 3-5 or death (mRS score 6). We compared the clinical characteristics and the rate of recanalization therapy between PED and non-PED and determined the effect of PED on stroke outcome. Results: Of all 493 participants (median age, 80 years; 212, 43.0% women), 86 (17.4%) had PED. PED were older (P<0.001), had a higher prevalence of congestive heart failure (P<0.001), a greater severity at onset and upon discharge compared to those with non-PED (P=0.0015 and P<0.001, respectively). Although the rate of rtPA was higher in patients with PED than those with non-PED (P=0.0398), there was no significant difference of the rate of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and rtPA with MT (P>0.05) and intracerebral hemorrhage between PED and non-PED groups (Both P>0.05). The frequencies of poor functional outcome were significantly higher in patients with PED than in those without PED (80.2 vs. 57.0%, P < 0.0001). In multivariable analyses, age [odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.09, P=0.0318], pre-stroke mRS (OR; 2.05, 95% CI 1.61-2.67, P<0.001), initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR; 1.21, 95% CI 1.16-1.27, P<0.001) and parenchymal hematoma type1/2 (OR; 5.35, 95% CI 1.15-24.88, P=0.0323), but not PED (OR; 1.74, 95% CI 0.76-3.98, P=0.1919), were associated with poor functional outcome. Conclusions: PED is not independently associated with poor functional outcome upon discharge after adjustment for baseline characteristics, pre-stroke dependency, initial stroke severity or stroke management.

Predictors of do-not-attempt-resuscitation decisions in patients with infratentorial or large supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhages and consequences thereafter: a register-based, longitudinal study in Sweden

ObjectivesDo-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) decisions for patients with infratentorial or large supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) pose clinical and ethical challenges. We aimed to investigate factors associated with DNAR decisions in patients with infratentorial or large (≥30 mL) supratentorial ICH, and differences in complications, treatment, and mortality.Materials & methodsThis longitudinal, observational study comprised all patients treated for ICH at three stroke units in Gothenburg, Sweden, between November 2014 and June 2019. Patients were identified in the local stroke register, and additional data were collected from medical records and national registries. Mortality rates were followed 1 year after incident ICHs. Factors associated with DNAR decisions, and one-year mortality were explored.ResultsOf 307 included patients, 164 received a DNAR decision. Most (75%) decisions were made within 24 h. DNAR decisions were associated with higher age, pre-stroke dependency, stroke severity, and intraventricular hemorrhage. Patients without DNAR decisions received thrombosis prophylaxis, oral antibiotics, and rehabilitative evaluations more frequently. The one-year survival probability was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.11–0.23) in patients with DNAR decisions, and 0.87 (95% CI 0.81–0.92) in patients without DNAR decision. DNAR decisions, higher age, stroke severity, hematoma volume, and comorbidities were associated with increased one-year mortality. Thrombosis prophylaxis and living alone were associated with a lower hazard.ConclusionThe majority of DNAR decisions for patients with infratentorial or large supratentorial ICH were made within 48 h. Higher age, pre-stroke dependency, high stroke severity, and intraventricular hemorrhage predicted receiving a DNAR decision. DNAR decisions were strongly associated with increased short- and long-term mortality.

Preventive ceftriaxone in patients at high risk of stroke-associated pneumonia. A post-hoc analysis of the PASS trial.

Infections complicate the acute phase of stroke in one third of patients and especially pneumonia is associated with increased risk of death or dependency. In randomized trials of stroke patients, preventive antibiotics reduced overall infections, but did not reduce pneumonia or improve outcome. This may be explained by broad selection criteria, including many patients with a low risk of pneumonia. To assess the potential of selection of patients at high risk of pneumonia, we performed a post-hoc analysis in the Preventive Antibiotics in Stroke Study (PASS). PASS was a multicentre phase 3 trial in acute stroke patients who were randomized to preventive ceftriaxone for four days within 24 hours or standard care. For this analysis patients were divided based on the ISAN risk score for pneumonia as follows: low (0-6), medium (7-14) and high (15-21). Primary outcomes were pneumonia rate during admission as judged by the treating physician, and by an independent committee; secondary outcomes were overall infections and unfavorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≥3). We adjusted with multivariable regression for possible confounders: age, stroke subtype and severity, pre-stroke dependency and diabetes. Pneumonia occurred more frequently in higher risk groups (25.7% (high), 9.0% (medium) 1.5%, (low)). The absolute difference in pneumonia rate between patients treated with ceftriaxone or standard care increased with the ISAN score (low: 0.5%, medium: 1.2%, high: 10.1%). After adjustment ceftriaxone reduced overall infections in the low and medium groups, not in the high-risk group. There was a trend towards reduction of pneumonia as judged by the committee (3.7% vs 13.6%, aOR = 0.164, p = 0.063) in the high-risk group. This post-hoc analysis of PASS confirmed higher rates of pneumonia with higher ISAN scores, and suggests that in acute stroke patients with an ISAN score of ≥15, preventive ceftriaxone for four days may reduce pneumonia rate.

Patient factors associated with receiving reversal therapy in oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage.

We aimed to describe baseline characteristics of patients with oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage (OAC-ICH) in Sweden and to identify predictive variables associated with receiving hemostatic treatment in the event of OAC-ICH. We performed an observational study based on data from Riksstroke and the Swedish Causes of Death Register to define baseline characteristics of patients with OAC-ICH who received reversal treatment compared with patients who did not receive reversal treatment during 2017-2019. Predictive analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression to identify odds ratios for factors associated with receiving OAC reversal treatment. We included 1902 patients ((n=1146; OAC reversal treatment) (n=756; no OAC reversal treatment)). The proportion of non-Vitamin K oral anticoagulant associated ICH (NOAC-ICH) patients who received reversal treatment was 48.4% and the proportion of Vitamin K antagonist-associated ICH (VKA-ICH) patients was 72.9%. Factors associated with a lower odds of receiving reversal treatment were increased age (OR=0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99), previous stroke (OR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.62-0.98), comatose LOC (OR=0.36;95%CI: 0.27-0.48; ref.=alert), pre-stroke dependency (OR=0.72; 95% CI: 0.58-0.91), and NOAC treatment (OR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.28-0.42). Care at a university hospital was not associated with higher odds of receiving reversal treatment compared to treatment at a county hospital. Treatment with a reversal agent following OAC-ICH was related to several patient factors including type of OAC drug. We identified that only 48% of patients with NOAC-ICH received hemostatic treatment despite an increase in these cases. Further studies are required to guide the use of reversal therapies more precisely, particularly in NOAC-ICH.

Subtypes of delirium after ischaemic stroke-predisposing factors and outcomes: a prospective observational study (PROPOLIS).

Delirium is a serious complication after stroke. It remains unclear whether different motor subtypes of delirium are associated with diverse risk factors and outcomes. The aim was to investigate if delirium subtypes differ in predisposing factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes. In all, 698 patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (median age 73 years; 53.7% female) were prospectively included. Core features of delirium during the first 7days after admission were examined. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for delirium were used. Pre-stroke characteristics were compared between different delirium subtypes and logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to explore the association between delirium, functional outcome and death. Hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed delirium were diagnosed in 28, 75 and 66 patients, respectively. Patients with hyperactive delirium had less severe neurological deficit on admission and more often had transient ischaemic attack compared with patients with hypoactive and mixed delirium. Compared with patients with hypoactive delirium, those with hyperactive delirium more often suffered from irritability/lability prior to stroke. Hyperactive and hypoactive delirium did not differ in age, sex, comorbidities, pre-stroke dependency, cognitive decline and severity of delirium. Hyperactive, hypoactive and mixed delirium were associated with an increased risk of poor 3- and 12-month functional outcome compared with patients without delirium. Moreover, patients with hypoactive and mixed delirium had an elevated risk of death. Hyperactive delirium is associated with less severe stroke and higher scores of pre-existing irritability/lability. All three motor subtypes of delirium are associated with poor outcome, although hyperactive delirium seems to have a less unfavourable prognosis.

Stroke in women: When gender matters.

Stroke in women may be considered as a distinct entity due to numerous differences compared with men, including specific epidemiological, etiological, and outcome features along with unique pathophysiological mechanisms. Stroke is the second cause of death in women worldwide with sex-specific causes of stroke in youger women such as pregnancy, post-partum period, oral contraception and migraine. Substitutive hormone treatment in older women is no more recommended in regard of the increased thromboembolic risk it generates. Venous thrombolysis with rtPA and mechanical thrombectomy are now proven to be as efficacious in women as in men. After a stroke, women present poorer quality of life than men attributable to age, more severe stroke, pre-stroke dependency and depression. Recent data concerning the latest epidemiological surveys reveal a shift in trends with the rise of incidence of strokes in young women (≤55 years and 64 years) contrasting with the stability of incidence rates in older women. As science is unvealing sex-related differences in cardiovascular disorders, health policies need to be adapted accordingly to improve stroke prevention and pre-stroke health in women. In the meantime, therapeutical trials should include more women in order to be able to formulate adequate management.

Endovascular Therapy vs. Thrombolysis in Pre-stroke Dependent Patients With Large Vessel Occlusions Within the Anterior Circulation.

Background: In the past few years, several randomized trials have clearly shown that endovascular treatment (ET) in addition to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is superior to IVT alone in patients with proximal cerebral arterial occlusions. However, the effectiveness of ET in pre-stroke dependent patients (modified Rankin Scale ≥3) is uncertain.Methods: Using our prospectively obtained stroke database, we analyzed the impact of pre-stroke dependence on the rates of poor outcome (discharge mRS 5–6), in-hospital death, infarct sizes, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) in patients with distal intracranial carotid artery M1 and M2 occlusions during two time periods.Results: From 1/2008 to 10/2012, a total of 544 patients (455 without and 89 with dependence) were treated with IVT, and from 11/2012 to 12/2019 a total of 1,061 patients (919 without and 142 with dependence) received ET (with or without IVT). Irrespective of the treatment modality, the dependent patients had significantly higher rates of poor outcome (55 vs. 32%, p < 0.001), death (24 vs. 11%; p < 0.001), or SICH (8.2 vs. 3.6%, p < 0.01) than independent patients. In dependent patients, ET significantly reduced the rates of poor outcome (49 vs. 64%, p < 0.01) and led to smaller infarcts, whereas the rates of in-hospital death (25 vs. 22%; p = 0.6) or SICH (8.5 vs. 7.9%, p = 0.9) were comparable between both treatment modalities.Conclusions: Compared with IVT, ET avoids poor outcome and leads to smaller infarcts in dependent patients. However, the overall high rates of poor outcome in this patient population stress the importance to perform decisions based on a case-by-case basis.

Examining outcomes following thrombolysis in an increasingly older and dependent stroke population.

Thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients aged ˜80 years is evidence based, although its use in previously dependent patients is controversial. Data from 831 thrombolysed AIS patients in our centre from 2009-2017 were used to compare demographic trends and outcomes (haemorrhage, mortality, three-month independence) in patients aged <80 and ˜80 years and with prior dependency. Comparison with UK and world registry data regarding age and pre-stroke dependency was made. The percentage of treated patients aged ˜80 years increased year-on-year, doubling from 25% to 50% (p <0.01), with increasing average age and pre-stroke dependency in world centres. Patients ˜80 years had higher (p <0.001) stroke severity, symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (5% vs. 1.5%), mortality (35% vs. 13%) and lower three month independent survival (24% vs. 60%). Patients with pre-stroke dependency had especially higher three month mortality (57-71%, OR 3.75 [95% CI 1.97-7.15]) in both age groups. Patients aged ˜80 years and with dependency increasingly receive thrombolysis. Given poorer outcomes thrombolysis trials are needed in pre-stroke dependent patients.

The Risk of Selection Bias in a Clinical Multi-Center Cohort Study. Results from the Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke (Nor-COAST) Study.

PurposeThe Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke (Nor-COAST) study aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of neurocognitive disorder in an unselected stroke cohort. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether selection bias occurred by comparing baseline characteristics from participants with non-participants in Nor-COAST.Patients and MethodsNor-COAST is a prospective cohort multi-center study, recruiting participants from five Norwegian hospitals. Patients with the diagnosis of acute stroke were screened for inclusion. Baseline data from the participants recruited between May 2015 and March 2017 were compared to corresponding data from those not participating in Nor-COAST but registered in the Norwegian Stroke Registry. Regression analysis was used to assess whether age, stroke severity, sex and stroke subtype were independently associated with inclusion in the study.ResultsOut of 2505 available patients, 815 (32.5%) were included in Nor-COAST. There were no differences between participants and non-participants with respect to age (mean (SD) age 73.5 (11.7) versus 74.2 (14.5) years) or sex (44.8% versus 46.9% women). A significantly larger proportion of the participants were independent prior to stroke (87% versus 78%), had mild strokes (69% versus 55%) and suffered from cerebral infarction (90% versus 84%). The regression analysis showed decreased odds ratio (OR) of being included for those with higher degree of pre-stroke dependency (OR 0.895, 95% CI 0.825 to 0.971, p=0.007) and a more severe stroke (OR 0.952, 95% CI 0.939 to 0.966, p<0.001).ConclusionThe participants in Nor-COAST had a better pre-stroke health condition and milder strokes compared to non-participants. However, the participants should be regarded as representative of the majority of the stroke population which suffers from mild strokes. Nevertheless, baseline information for non-participants should be available also in future clinical studies to make it easier to identify which part of the stroke population the results can be generalized to.

Long-term mortality in survivors of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Factors associated with long-term mortality after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have been poorly investigated. Our objective was to identify variables associated with long-term mortality in a prospective cohort of 30-day ICH survivors. We prospectively included consecutive 30-day spontaneous ICH survivors. We evaluated baseline and follow-up clinical characteristics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of chronic brain injury as variables associated with long-term mortality using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models. Of 560 patients with spontaneous ICH, 304 (54.2%) survived more than 30 days and consented for follow-up. During a median follow-up of 10 years (interquartile range: 8.0-10.5), 176 patients died. The cumulative survival rate at 10 years was 38%. In multivariable analysis, variables independently associated with long-term mortality were age (hazard ratio (HR) per 10-year increase: 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.45-1.95), male gender (HR: 1.41, CI: 1.02-1.95), prestroke dependency (HR: 1.66, CI: 1.15-2.39), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (HR per 1-point increase: 1.03, CI: 1.01-1.04), occurrence of any stroke (HR: 2.24, CI: 1.39-3.60), and dementia (HR: 1.51, CI: 1.06-2.16) during follow-up. Among MRI markers, only cerebral atrophy (HR per 1-point increase: 1.50, CI: 1.13-2.00) was independently associated with long-term mortality. Preexisting comorbidities, clinical severity at presentation, and significant clinical event during follow-up are associated with long-term mortality. Among MRI markers of chronic brain injury, only cerebral atrophy is associated with long-term mortality.

Impact of pre-stroke dependency on outcome after endovascular therapy in acute ischemic stroke

Background and purposeCurrent demographic changes indicate that more people will be care-dependent due to increasing life expectancy. Little is known about impact of preexisting dependency on stroke outcome after endovascular treatment (EVT).MethodsWe compared prospectively collected baseline and outcome data of previously dependent vs. independent stroke patients (prestroke modified Rankin Scale score of 3–5 vs. 0–2) treated with EVT. Outcome measures were favorable 3-month outcome (mRS ≤ 3 for previously dependent and mRS ≤ 2 for independent patients, respectively), death and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH).ResultsAmong 1247 patients, 84 (6.7%) were dependent before stroke. They were older (81 vs. 72 years of age), more often female (61.9% vs. 46%), had a higher stroke severity at baseline (NIHSS 18 vs. 15 points), more often history of previous stroke (32.9% vs. 9.1%) and more vascular risk factors than independent patients. Favorable outcome and mortality were to the disadvantage of independent patients (26.2% vs. 44.4% and 46.4% vs. 25.5%, respectively), whereas sICH was comparable in both cohorts (4.9% vs. 5%). However, preexisting dependency was not associated with clinical outcome and mortality after adjusting for outcome predictors (OR 1.076, 95% CI 0.612–1.891; p = 0.799 and OR 1.267, 95% CI 0.758–2.119; p = 0.367, respectively).ConclusionOur study underscores the need for careful selection of care-dependent stroke patients when considering EVT, given a less favorable outcome observed in this cohort. Nonetheless, EVT should not systematically be withheld in patients with preexisting disability, since prior dependency does not significantly influence outcome.

Ischemic stroke patients with prestroke dependency: Characteristics and long-term prognosis.

ObjectiveThis paper aims at examining the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke patients with different levels of prestroke functional dependency, their long‐term outcome, and determinants of five‐year mortality.Materials and methodsWe describe demographics, comorbidity, treatment, as well as long‐term mortality, and functional status of 5899 prestroke‐dependent ischemic stroke patients stratified by dependency level and compared to a concurrent cohort of 14 148 prestroke‐independent patients. The study was based on 2016 survey data from Riksstroke, the Swedish national stroke register, and patients were followed up at three months, 12 months, and either at three or five years. We used Cox regression for mortality predictor analysis and multiple imputation was performed to minimize bias from loss to follow‐up.ResultsWith increasing level of prestroke dependency, comorbidity burden was higher, drug prescription lower, and prognosis less favorable. At three years, the proportion that had died or deteriorated were 82.6%, 87.5%, and 86.3% in moderate, moderately severe, and severe dependency, respectively. In moderate dependency, prognosis was relatively favorable: Three‐month mortality was half of that seen in severe dependency (25.3% versus 49.6%). Differences in overall outcome between groups of varying prestroke functional dependency level were statistically significant (P < .05) at all follow‐up time points.ConclusionsThere was great heterogeneity between groups of different level of prestroke dependency; those of moderate dependency had a relatively favorable prognosis. Patients of different prestroke level of dependency need to be addressed separately, and further research is needed characterizing this group and exploring management strategies.

Spatial neglect in acute stroke: the line bisection test

Line bisection testing was performed on 82 elderly subjects within 14 days of a non-lacunar stroke. The 40 subjects with impaired line bisection were of similar age and pre-stroke dependency as the 42 subjects with normal line bisection but had a more severe current stroke deficit as evidenced by a higher incidence of new hemiplegia, homonomous hemianopia, visual extinction and constructional impairment, and greater power loss. Subjects with impaired line bisection had poorer functional outcome than those with normal line bisection as measured by Barthel activities of daily living scores, walking speed and discharge residence. When subjects with impaired line bisection were divided into two groups according to line bisection error, the severely impaired had worse functional outcome than the mildly impaired. After accounting for motor loss and the ability to draw a house by using logistic regression, line bisection did not contribute significantly to predicting functional outcome.

Stroke-Specific Quality of Life one-year post-stroke in two Scandinavian country-regions with different organisation of rehabilitation services: a prospective study

Purpose To compare stroke-specific health related quality of life in two country-regions with organisational differences in subacute rehabilitation services, and to reveal whether organisational factors or individual factors impact outcome. Materials and methods A prospective multicentre study with one-year follow-up of 369 first-ever stroke survivors with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, recruited from stroke units in North Norway (n = 208) and Central Denmark (n = 161). The 12-domain Stroke-Specific Quality of Life scale was the primary outcome-measure. Results The Norwegian participants were older than the Danish (M age= 69.8 vs. 66.7 years, respectively), had higher initial stroke severity, and longer stroke unit stays. Both cohorts reported more problems with cognitive, social, and emotional functioning compared to physical functioning. Two scale components were revealed. Between-country differences in the cognitive-social-mental component showed slightly better function in the Norwegian participants. Depression, anxiety, pre-stroke dependency, initial stroke severity, and older age were substantially associated to scale scores. Conclusions Successful improvements in one-year functioning in both country-regions may result from optimising long-term rehabilitation services to address cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. Stroke-Specific Quality of Life one-year post-stroke could be explained by individual factors, such as pre-stroke dependency and mental health, rather than differences in the organisation of subacute rehabilitation services. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION The stroke-specific health related quality of life (SS-QOL) assessment tool captures multidimensional effects of a stroke from the perspective of the patient, which is clinically important information for the rehabilitation services. The cognitive-social-mental component and the physical health component, indicate specific functional problems which may vary across and within countries and regions with different organisation of rehabilitation services. For persons with mild to moderate stroke, longer-term functional improvements may be better optimised if the rehabilitation services particularly address cognitive, emotional, and social functioning.

Abstract 180: Women Have Higher Neurological Severity and Worse Functional Outcome Than Men With Similar Infarct Volume and Leukoaraiosis Burden

Background: Women, compared with men, tend to have worse functional outcome after stroke. The gender effect is not fully explained by age, pre-stroke dependency, and stroke severity. We hypothesized that it might be due to different prognostic impacts of stroke-related brain lesions in women vs. men. Objective: To investigate if the effects of acute infarct volume and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume on initial stroke severity and 3-month functional outcome are modified by gender. Methods: This prospective study included 6748 patients with acute ischemic stroke (&lt;1-week) recruited (May 2011 to February 2013) consecutively from 11 academic stroke centers. The volumes (% of brain parenchyma) of acute infarct and WMH were measured in all patients by using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRIs. Multivariable analyses were performed to test gender-related interactions in the relationship of MR lesion (infarct or WMH) volume (quartiles) with admission NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) score or 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) score, after adjusting for relevant covariates. Results: Women, compared with men, were older (mean 72 vs. 65, p&lt;0.01), and had more risk factors, a higher admission NIHSS score (median 4 vs. 3; p&lt;0.01), and a higher WMH volume (median 0.98% vs. 0.74%, p&lt;0.01). Acute infarct volume was not different between the two groups (median 0.15% vs. 0.16%, p=0.27), however its impact on the NIHSS score was greater in women than in men (adjusted analysis, p&lt;0.01). At 3 months, women had worse functional outcome than men (mRS&gt;2: adjusted OR [95%], 1.36 [1.09-1.69]). The association of WMH volume with 3-month mRS score was significantly modified by gender (p-for-interaction=0.049), with the WMH effect being greater in women (adjusted ORs of the highest vs. lowest quartile for the worse outcome: 2.47 in women vs. 1.51 in men). Conclusion: Women, compared with men, are probably more susceptible to the adverse effects of infarct volume and WMH volume on stroke severity and functional outcome.

A cohort study of the effects of dementia and dependence on the three-month outcome of acute stroke

Objective To investigate the effect of pre-stroke dependence and pre-stroke combined dementia on the outcome of 3 months after stroke in patients aged more than 65 years. Methods This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 966 patients with acute stroke were enrolled in the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from March 2015 to March 2018, including 168 patients diagnosed with dementia before acute stroke for the dementia group, and the remaining 798 people were treated as the non-dementia group. The demographic differences between the two groups at admission were compared. With the death and independence as the dependent variable within 3 months after the diagnosis of acute stroke, the independent risk of admission and the presence of dementia were used as covariates to make a COX proportional hazard assessment. Results There was significant difference in the number of medications, consistently taken with warfarin, pre-stroke independence, admission status between the dementia group and the non-dementia group (U=3.42, χ2=4.52, 8.96, 8.76, P 0.05). There was significant difference in the number of deaths within 3 months after discharge and dependence within 3 months after stroke between the two groups (χ2=5.69, 6.94, P < 0.01). Patients with pre-stroke dementia died during hospitalization and died within 3 months after discharge, the risk of moderate-to-severe dependence within 3 months after discharge was 1.00, 1.32, 2.56 compared with those who were completely independent before admission; mild dependence before admission patients who died before the stroke were completely dead during hospitalization and died within 3 months after discharge, the risk of moderate-to-severe dependence within 3 months after discharge was 1.42, 1.86, 2.73, respectively. Patients who were moderately dependent before admission were more likely to die from hospitalization than those who were completely independent before stroke, the risk of death within 3 months after discharge was 1.68, 2.42, respectively. Patients who were heavily dependent before admission were more likely to die from hospitalization than those who were completely independent before stroke, the risk of death within 3 months after discharge was 1.89, 3.24, respectively. Conclusions Pre-stroke dementia and activity disorder lead to a high risk of death and high disability within 3 months after stroke. Key words: Stroke; Dementia; Weakness; Function; Mortality

Influence of Pre-Existing Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia on Post-Stroke Mortality. The Dijon Stroke Registry

Objective: We assessed the association between pre-stroke cognitive status and 90-day case-fatality. Methods: Patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were prospectively identified among residents of Dijon, France, between 2013 and 2015, using a population-based registry. Association between pre-stroke cognitive status and case-fatality at 90 days was evaluated using Cox regression. Results: Seven hundred sixty-two patients were identified, and information about pre-stroke cognitive status was obtained for 716 (92.6%) of them, including 603 IS (84.2%) and 113 ICH (15.8%). Before stroke, 99 (13.8%) patients had mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 98 (13.7%) had dementia. Patients with cognitive impairment were older, had a higher prevalence of several risk factors, more severe stroke, more frequent ICH, and less admission to stroke unit. Case-fatality rate at 90 days was 11.7% in patients without cognitive impairment, 32.3% in MCI patients, and 55.1% in patients with dementia. In multivariable analyses, pre-existing MCI (hazard ratio [HR] 2.22, 95% CI 1.21–4.05, p = 0.009) and dementia (HR 4.35, 95% CI 2.49–7.61, p < 0.001) were both associated with 90-day case-fatality. Conclusion: Pre-stroke MCI and dementia were both associated with increased mortality. These associations were not fully explained by baseline characteristics, pre-stroke dependency, stroke severity or patient management, and underlying reasons need to be investigated.

Sex Differences in Long-Term Quality of Life Among Survivors After Stroke in the INSTRUCT.

Background and Purpose- Women are reported to have poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after stroke than men, but the underlying reasons are uncertain. We investigated factors contributing to the sex differences. Methods- Individual participant data on 4288 first-ever strokes (1996-2013) were obtained from 4 high-quality population-based incidence studies from Australasia and Europe. HRQoL utility scores among survivors after stroke (range from negative scores=worse than death to 1=perfect health) were calculated from 3 scales including European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions, Short-Form 6-Dimension, and Assessment of Quality of Life at 1 year (3 studies; n=1210) and 5 years (3 studies; n=1057). Quantile regression was used to estimate the median differences in HRQoL for women compared to men with adjustment for covariates. Study factors included sociodemographics, prestroke dependency, stroke-related factors (eg, stroke severity), comorbidities, and poststroke depression. Study-specific median differences were combined into pooled estimates using random-effect meta-analysis. Results- Women had lower pooled HRQoL than men (median differenceunadjusted 1 year, -0.147; 95% CI, -0.258 to -0.036; 5 years, -0.090; 95% CI, -0.119 to -0.062). After adjustment for age, stroke severity, prestroke dependency, and depression, these pooled median differences were attenuated, more greatly at 1 year (-0.067; 95% CI, -0.111 to -0.022) than at 5 years (-0.085; 95% CI, -0.135 to -0.034). Conclusions- Women consistently exhibited poorer HRQoL after stroke than men. This was partly attributable to women's advanced age, more severe strokes, prestroke dependency, and poststroke depression, suggesting targets to reduce the differences. There was some evidence of residual differences in HRQoL between sexes but they were small and unlikely to be clinically significant.