Risk Factor For Stroke In Patients Research Articles

Treatments, medical expenses and complications of hospital outpatient healthcare associated with stroke in patients with diabetes in China: a retrospective analysis of the Beijing Municipal Medical Insurance Database

ObjectivesDiabetes is closely associated with risk of stroke and its adverse sequelae. Approximately 20%–33% of patients with stroke have diabetes. In China, however, it is unclear how stroke affects healthcare...

Characteristics of stroke inpatients in a single- center in Kunming: A multi-ethnic settlement with a northern sub-tropical low-latitude plateau mountain monsoon climate

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of stroke inpatients in Kunming in southwest China. Methods: Basic demographic information and risk factors of stroke inpatients admitted to a first-rate tertiary referral hospital in Kunming from January 1, 2015, to September 15, 2022, were retrospectively analysed. In total, 7,108 stroke inpatients with ischemic stroke (IS), primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) were included. Results: IS was the most common type of stroke (75.97%), followed by ICH (13.45%) and SAH (10.58%). There were significant differences among the three groups in sex, age, ethnic, residence, occupation, and medical expenses (P<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in the proportion of inpatients between the four seasons (P<0.05). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes were common risk factors for stroke. There were significant differences in the incidence of smoking, alcohol use, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and pulmonary infection among the three stroke subtypes (P<0.05). Conclusion: Demographic information and risk factors were different among the three stroke subtypes. The number of hospitalized patients from all three groups varied slightly in different seasons in Kunming. Different types of cerebrovascular disease patients in the region have different characteristics from demographic information to risk factors.

Exploring clinical indicator variations in stroke patients with multiple risk factors: focus on hypertension and inflammatory reactions

BackgroundStroke stands as the second leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, extensive research has been conducted on stroke risk factors. However, when stroke patients contend with multiple risk factors, the impact on clinical indicators remains uncertain.ObjectivesThis study seeks to investigate potential significant variations among distinct ranges of clinical indicators in instances where stroke patients experience multiple risk factors and various ischemic stroke subtypes.Material and methodsThe research encompassed 440 stroke patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Wenling City, Zhejiang Province, China. These patients were classified based on the type and quantity of risk factors and subtypes of ischemic stroke they presented. The χ2 test was employed to assess the relationship between the risk of comorbid diseases and clinical indicators in stroke patients.ResultsThe results of our study have underscored a significant correlation between various comorbid risk factors in stroke patients and the patients' age (P < 0.010). Furthermore, we observed noteworthy disparities in the plasma levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and INF-γ between patients devoid of risk factors and those presenting with comorbid risk factors associated with stroke. Significant differences in INF-γ were observed between the two subtypes of ischemic stroke, namely lacunar infarction and cardioembolic stroke.ConclusionAge is correlated with an elevated risk of stroke. Individuals exhibiting multiple stroke risk factors and diverse ischemic stroke subtypes commonly present with abnormal lipid levels and imbalances in Th1/Th2 cytokines. These factors significantly contribute to the onset and progression of stroke. Furthermore, inflammatory responses, particularly those induced by atherosclerosis, play a pivotal role in the genesis of stroke and exert a substantial influence on its prognosis.

Association of multidimensional frailty and quality of life in middle-aged and older people with stroke: A cross-sectional study.

The aims of this study were to (i) compare the prevalence of multidimensional frailty in middle-aged and older people with stroke and to (ii) explore the relationship between multidimensional frailty and quality of life (QoL) in this patient population. In recent years, stroke patients have become increasingly younger. As an important risk factor for stroke patients, frailty has gradually drawn research attention because of its multidimensional nature. This study used a cross-sectional design. The study included 234 stroke patients aged 45 and older. Multidimensional frailty was defined as a holistic condition in which a person experiences losses in one or more domains of human functioning (physical, psychological and social) based on the Tilburg Frailty Indicator, and QoL was based on the short version of the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale. Hierarchical regression was used to analyse the correlation factors of QoL. STROBE checklist guides the reporting of the manuscript. A total of 128 (54.7%) participants had multidimensional frailty, 48 (44.5%) were middle aged and 80 (63.5%) were older adults. The overall QoL mean score of the participants was 47.86 ± 9.04. Multidimensional frailty was negatively correlated with QoL. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that multidimensional frailty could independently explain 14.6% of the variation in QoL in stroke patients. Multidimensional frailty was prevalent in middle-aged and older people with stroke, and it was a significant factor associated with QoL in stroke patients. This study emphasises the importance of the early identification of multidimensional frailty. And targeted interventions should be studied to prevent the occurrence of multidimensional frailty and thereby improve the QoL of patients. There are no patient or public contributions to this study.

Blood pressure variability predicts poor outcomes in acute stroke patients without thrombolysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Stroke is a significant medical condition, and blood pressure stands out as the most prevalent treatable risk factor associated with it. Researches link blood pressure variability (BPV) with stroke; however, the specific relationship between with the outcomes of stroke patients remains unclear. As blood pressure variability and mean blood pressure are interrelated, it remains uncertain whether BPV adds additional information to understanding the outcome of acute stroke patients. To systematically review studies investigating the association between blood pressure variability and prognosis in acute stroke patients. Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for English language full-text articles from the inception to 1 January 2023. Stroke patients aged ≥ 18years were included in this analysis. Stroke types were not restricted. This meta-analysis shows that higher systolic blood pressure variability is linked to a higher risk of poor outcome, including function disability, mortality, early neurological deterioration, and stroke recurrence, among acute stroke patients without thrombolysis. A higher diastolic blood pressure variability is linked with to a higher risk of mortality and functional disability. This review reveals that blood pressure variability is a novel and clinically relevant risk factor for stroke patients' outcome. Future studies should investigate how best to measure and define BPV in acute stroke. Larger studies are warranted to provide more robust evidence in this area.

Abstract 17474: Factors Affecting Cognitive Status in Patients With Intracranial Atherosclerosis After Surgical Revascularization: A Post Hoc Analysis of ERSIAS Phase-2 Performance Criterion (PC) Trial

Introduction: Cognitive decline affects a large proportion of patients with ischemic stroke. Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a common stroke etiology associated with a high and prolonged risk of recurrence. In the ERSIAS phase-II trial, patients with symptomatic ICAD received revascularization with encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) plus intensive medical management (IMM) of stroke risk factors. We present a subgroup analysis of features affecting cognitive outcomes. Hypothesis: To evaluate the factors contributing to cognitive decline in patients who underwent revascularization for symptomatic ICAD. Methods: ERSIAS patients without aphasia that completed at least one year of follow-up were included. Cognitive status was evaluated using MoCA at baseline and each follow-up and classified as improved/preserved vs. worsened. Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) was used to identify factors associated with changes in cognitive function. Factors considered were age, sex, stenosis vs. occlusion, baseline-mRS, good collateralization and compliance with diabetes (DM) hypertension (HTN), and hyperlipidemia (HLD) treatments. Results: In ERSIAS, the mean MoCA at baseline was 22.4 (SD 4.9), and 23.9 (SD 4.9) at one-year follow-up in the complete population. Thirty-nine patients were included in this analysis. Median age was 46 (IQR 37.0-56.0), and 27 (69.2%) were female. MoCA improved or remained stable in 33 (84.6%) patients and declined in 6 (15.4%). CART analysis revealed that the most relevant factors for improved MoCA were compliance with DM treatment (94.5%(yes) vs.74.2%(no) p=0.02) HLD treatment (83.3% (yes) 60.5%(no) p=0.2) and stenosis 99.1% vs. occlusion 80.9%, p=0.6 Other factors where not found to be contributory. Conclusions: Compliance with DM treatment is a significant predictor of cognitive preservation in symptomatic ICAD patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of IMM of stroke risk factors in patients with intracranial atherosclerosis, even after surgical revascularization.

Distribution of cerebral age-related white matter changes in relation to risk factors in stroke patients

IntroductionThe distribution of cerebral age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) may be indicative of the underlying etiology and could suggest optimal interventions. We aimed to determine if left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), a marker of uncontrolled hypertension, along with additional risk factors are associated with the distribution of cerebral ARWMC. MethodsWe analyzed data of 172 patients from a hospital stroke registry who had acute stroke and brain MRI. We classified lesion location as superficial (frontal, parieto-occipital, or temporal) or deep (basal nuclei) using the ARWMC scale. We defined a superficial ARWMC index as the superficial minus the deep score. We excluded infratentorial lesions and patients with bilateral strokes. Regression analysis analyzed LVH and other relevant clinical factors for independent association with the superficial ARWMC index. ResultsThe superficial ARWMC scores ranged from 0 to 6, the deep scores from 0 to 3, and the superficial ARWMC index from −2 to 6. We categorized the superficial ARWMC index as −2 to 1 (n = 65), 2 (n = 50), and 3 – 6 (n = 57). In bivariate analysis, ARWMC distribution was significantly associated with older age, lower household income (HI), and lower serum triglyceride (TG) levels. In multiple logistic regression analysis, higher superficial ARWMC index was significantly associated with lower HI (OR 10.72, 95 % CI 2.30–49.85), lower serum low density cholesterol (LDL) (OR 0.86, 95 % CI 0.75–0.98, per 10 mg/dL), and lower serum TG levels (OR 0.91, 95 % CI 0.85–0.99, per 10 mg/dL). The area under the curve in receiver operating characteristic analysis (95 % CI) for HI was 0.63 (0.49–0.76), LDL level 0.64 (0.51–0.77), and TG level 0.77 (0.65–0.88). ConclusionIn this study, LVH was not associated with the distribution of cerebral ARWMC. Using an alternate classification of ARWMC distribution and analyzing additional risk factors in larger studies may yield further discoveries.

Hyperhomocysteinemia Increases Vascular Risk in Stroke Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) on the recurrent vascular event risk in stroke patients with or without chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this prospective observational study, 621 patients (mean age, 69.5 years; male, 62.2%) with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack were consecutively enrolled within 1 week of onset and followed-up for 1 year. HHcy was defined as elevated levels of fasting total homocysteine ＞15 µmol/L. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ＜60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a history of renal replacement therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including nonfatal stroke, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, major peripheral artery disease, and vascular death. The prevalence of HHcy was 18.5%. Patients with HHcy were more likely to have intracranial (37.4% versus 24.8%; p=0.008) and extracranial (20.9% versus 13.0%; p=0.037) artery stenosis than were those without HHcy. At 1 year, patients with HHcy were at a greater risk of MACE than were those without HHcy (annual rate, 17.8% versus 10.4%; log-rank p=0.033). In the Cox proportional hazard regression models, HHcy was independently associated with an increased risk of MACE in patients with CKD (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-4.20), whereas HHcy was not predictive of MACE in those without CKD (adjusted HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.30-3.32). Elevated levels of serum homocysteine can be an important modifiable risk factor in stroke patients with CKD, but not in those without CKD.

Retracted: The Application of the GP Model to Manage Controllable Risk Factors in Stroke Patients with Diabetes Can Effectively Improve the Prognosis and Reduce the Recurrence Rate.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1155/2022/5413985.].

The Application of the GP Model to Manage Controllable Risk Factors in Stroke Patients with Diabetes Can Effectively Improve the Prognosis and Reduce the Recurrence Rate.

Objective The aim of this study is to examine the impacts of general practice model (GP) on prognosis and recurrence of stroke patients with diabetes. Methods Ninety patients with stroke combined with diabetes mellitus admitted to our hospital from June 2019 to June 2020 were selected for the study and were randomly and equally divided into 45 cases each in the control and experimental groups for the prospective trial. The patients in the control group received routine treatment while those in the experimental group were treated with GP model. Comparison in treatment effects, patients satisfaction, psychological status, quality of life, glycosylated hemoglobin level, and stroke recurrence was carried out between the two groups. Results The experimental group showed markedly better treatment effects (P < 0.05), higher satisfaction degree (P < 0.05), higher HAD (P < 0.05), GQOLI-74 score (P < 0.05), and BI index (P < 0.05), lower level of glycosylated hemoglobin (P < 0.05), and much lower recurrence rate (P < 0.05), as compared to the control group. Conclusion The application of the GP model to manage controllable risk factors in stroke patients with diabetes can effectively improve the prognosis and reduce the recurrence rate, which is worthy of clinical application and promotion.

Correlation between CRP Level and Stroke Volume

Background: Stroke is an important health issue for individuals and society. Early identification of risk factors of stroke patients helps take measures to prevent the development of further stroke. C-reactive protein is a marker of acute infection as well as acute inflammation. A high level of CRP may be associated with poor outcomes because they reflect either an inflammatory reaction or tissue damage (den Hertog HM et al., 2009). Increase in inflammatory parameters correlated significantly with lesion volume and stroke severity (Audebert HJ et al., 2004). Aim of the study: To see the Correlation between CRP level and stroke volume. And to see the CRP level as a prognostic marker in 3 months follow-ups in ischemic stroke. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study undertaken in the neurology department of a medical college hospital in Bangladesh. A total of 130 patients were included in the study group who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 130 patients, 63 were ischemic strokes and 67 were hemorrhagic strokes. Results: In our study, the estimated level of mean CRP level in acute haemorrhagic stroke was 8.6 mg/L. and in acute ischemic stroke was 21.6mg/L. In this study, there was a statistically significant relationship between the size of the infarct and the level of estimated CRP in ischemic stroke. There was no correlation between CRP level and volume of hemorrhage in hemorrhagic stroke. In this study, the mean CRP value was 19.1 mg/L in those patients who were alive and 28.4 mg/L in those patients who died of ischemic stroke. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p-value 0.30) though the mean CRP in patients who died were much higher than in those who were alive. Conclusion: In conclusion, we believe that these data support two main conclusions. First, the elevation of CRP is common in ischemic stroke. Second, advanced CRP levels were associated with larger infarct size in cases with acute ischemic stroke. These results suggest that elevated CRP levels, reflecting a large infarct size, may serve as a helpful serologic marker in the evaluation of inflexibility of acute ischemic stroke.

Stroke Risk Factors of Stroke Patients in China: A Nationwide Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of death in China, and its burdens are rapidly increasing. The prevalence and control of stroke risk factors among stroke patients in China are unknown. Objective: We investigated the stroke risk factors of stroke patients in China. Design: We examined stroke risk factors in 6580 stroke patients aged 18 years or older in the China National Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance of Adults (2015–2017). With regard to the basic characteristics of the study participants, categorical variables were described as frequency (percent). The chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between men and women. The multivariate logistic regression model was used in the multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 6580 stroke patients, hypertension was the most common stroke risk factor identified in most cases (78.51%), followed by overweight or obesity (61.58%), dyslipidemia (54.38%), smoking (24.04%), diabetes (21.75%), family history of stroke (17.43%), lack of exercise (16.35%), and atrial fibrillation (4.47%). Drinking stroke patients had a lower rate of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Patients with hyperuricemia had a higher rate of hypertension and dyslipidemia than no-hyperuricemia patients. The hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates among hypertension stroke patients were 73.62%, 70.19%, and 17.79%, respectively. The diabetes awareness, treatment, and control rates among diabetes patients were 69.74%, 65.83%, and 34.59%, respectively. The dyslipidemia awareness, treatment, and control rates among dyslipidemia patients were 42.37%, 29.4%, and 20.07%, respectively. Among treated hypertension patients, the rates of taking medicine as medically advised, controlled diet, increased exercise, and blood pressure monitoring were 91.31%, 58.88%, 45.78%, and 73.99%, respectively. Among treated diabetes patients, the rates of oral antidiabetic medications, insulin injection, diet control, and blood glucose monitoring were 78.24%, 34.71%, 85.77%, and 78.24%, respectively. Among treated dyslipidemic patients, the rate of taking medicine as medical advice, controlled diet, increased exercise, and regular blood lipid monitoring was 80.61%, 77.57%, 56.46%, and 40.3%, respectively. Conclusions: The most common risk factors for community stroke patients in China are hypertension, dyslipidemia, and overweight or obesity. The stroke community patients’ suboptimal awareness and treatment of hypertension, and suboptimal awareness, treatment, and control of diabetes, and dyslipidemia are significant problems in China.

Validation of Stroke Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack, or Intracerebral Hemorrhage on Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Claims Data

PurposeTaiwan has changed the coding system to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding since 2016. This study aimed to determine the optimal algorithms for identifying stroke risk factors in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 4538 patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from two hospitals’ stroke registries, which were linked to NHI claims data. We developed several algorithms based on ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and prescription claims data to identify hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation (AF), and ischemic heart disease (IHD) using registry data as the reference standard. The agreement of risk factor status between claims and registry data was quantified by calculating the kappa statistic.ResultsAccording to the registry data, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, AF, and IHD among all patients was 77.5%, 41.5%, 47.9%, 12.1%, and 7.1%, respectively. In general, including diagnosis codes from prior inpatient or outpatient claims to those from the stroke hospitalization claims improved the agreement. Incorporating prescription data could improve the agreement for hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and AF, but not for IHD. The kappa values of the optimal algorithms were 0.552 (95% confidence interval 0.524–0.580) for hypertension, 0.802 (0.784–0.820) for diabetes, 0.514 (0.490–0.539) for hyperlipidemia, 0.765 (0.734–0.795) for AF, and 0.518 (0.473–0.564) for IHD.ConclusionAlgorithms using diagnosis codes alone are sufficient to identify hypertension, AF, and IHD whereas algorithms combining both diagnosis codes and prescription data are more suitable for identifying diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The study results may provide a reference for future studies using Taiwan’s NHI claims data.

Gender Difference in Associations Between Telomere Length and Risk Factors in Patients With Stroke.

Multiple risk factors of stroke are associated with telomere length shortening. Although leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is shorter in patients with stroke, the heterogeneity is high. Risk factors may be differentially associated with LTL in male and female patients contributing to the heterogeneity. However, the gender difference in associations between LTL and risk factors in stroke patients has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the gender difference in associations between LTL and risk factors in 312 stroke patients. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to determine relative LTL, and multiple linear regression analysis was applied for association analyses. We found that LTL was negatively associated with triglyceride (TG) in all patients [β(95% CI) = −0.69 (−1.26, −0.11), P < 0.05] after adjusting confounders. Importantly, LTL was negatively associated with lack of exercise [β(95% CI) = −1.80 (−3.12, −0.49), P < 0.05] and LDL levels [β(95% CI) = −3.22 (−6.05, −0.390), P < 0.05] in male patients, while LTL was negatively associated with dyssomnia [β(95%CI) = −2.00 (−3.96, −0.07), P < 0.05] and diabetes [β(95%CI) = −2.13 (−4.10, −0.27), P < 0.01] in female patients. Our study showed that LTL is differently associated with risk factors in male and female patients with stroke, indicating that gender difference should be considered when LTL is potentially applied as an index of risk and prognosis for stroke. Our study also provides an insight into that gender differences should be considered when developing intervention strategies for stroke prevention and treatment.

Atrial fibrillation and stroke risk factors in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices

Purpose. Determination the proportion and burden of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) and without prior AF and assessing the incidence of risk factors for stroke in patients with AF.Methods. The medical history of 111 patients with CIED with remote monitoring function were analyzed. AF diagnosed by the device was interpreted by an arrhythmologist and cases of significant AF were selected. The group of patients with and without AF was compared for several factors. To clarify the influence of risk factors on the duration of AF, all AF cases were divided into 3 categories depending on the AF burden per day. The first group included patients with an AF burden per day of 0.1% or less (n=10, (45.5%)), the second - from 0.3% to 12.2% (n=7, (31.8%)), and the third group - with 100% (n=5, (22.7%)). Patients with a burden of 0.2%, 12.3-99.9% were absent.Results. Newly diagnosed AF was registered in 19.8% of cases. The risk of stroke among these patients was high - 2 [1; 3] points on the CHA2 DS2 -VASc for men, and 3 [2,75; 3,75] points for women. Hypertension of 2 and 3 degrees was recorded in all patients in the group with an AF burden of 100% per day. That significantly differed from the other 2 groups (p=0.043). In the group with an AF burden of 100%, the levels of NT-proBNP, D-dimer, and creatinine were significantly higher than in the other groups (p=0.037, p=0.031 and p=0.036, respectively). When analyzing the dependence of creatinine level on the presence of AF, the area under the ROC-curve was 0.653 with 95% confidence interval 0.528-0.779 (p=0.017). The proportion of right ventricular pacing in patients with ICD was higher in the group of patients with AF.Conclusion. AF occurs in 1/5 of patients with CIED. All patients with AF were potential candidates for anticoagulation due to their high risk of stroke. The daily burden of AF is positively correlated with the presence and degree of hypertension, as well as with markers of renal dysfunction, chronic heart failure, and thrombosis. Elevated creatinine levels are a predictor of AF.

Shorter visual aura characterizes young and middle-aged stroke patients with migraine with aura.

To identify the clinical profile and aura characteristics of patients with Migraine with Aura (MwA) having acute cerebral ischemia, we compared stroke phenotype and risk factors in stroke patients with (S+MwA+) or without (S+MwA-) MwA and aura features in MwA patients with (S+MwA+) or without (S-MwA+) stroke. In this retrospective multicenter case-control study, we reviewed stroke phenotypes and vascular risk factors in S+MwA+ and S+MwA- patients younger than 60years and risk factors and aura type, duration, onset age, and the frequency in the previous year in S+MwA+ patients and S-MwA+ subjects matched for age and disease history, investigated for patent foramen ovale (PFO). 539 stroke (7.7% S+MwA+) and 94 S-MwA + patients were enrolled. S+MwA+ patients were younger (p =.0.004) and more frequently presented PFO [OR 4.89 (95% CI 2.12-11.27)], septal interatrial aneurism [OR 2.69 (95% CI 1.15-6.27)] and cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) [OR 6.80 (95% CI 3.26-14.18)] than S+MwA- subjects. Significant atherosclerosis was not detected in S+MwA+ patients. Compared to S-MwA+, S+MwA+ patients were characterized by visual [OR 3.82 (95% CI 1.36-10.66)] and shorter-lasting (20.0min IQr 13.1 vs 30.0min IQr 25.0; p < 0.001) aura, and PFO [OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.03-1.54)]. Regression analysis evidenced that only shorter aura duration associated with stroke (p = 0.001). High-risk PFO was equally represented in S+MwA-, S+MwA+, S-MwA+ groups. Shorter visual aura and CIS characterize MwA patients with stroke. Although more prevalent, PFO can not be considered the main responsible for the increased stroke risk in MwA patients but as a part of a complex multifactorial condition.

Ischemic Stroke Risk Factors in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Treated with New Oral Anticoagulants.

The most commonly used therapeutic option for the prevention of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is new- or old-generation oral anticoagulants. New oral anticoagulants are at least as effective as old-generation oral anticoagulants in the prevention of ischemic stroke, with a reduced risk of life-threatening hemorrhage. Moreover, the constant monitoring of these drugs in the patient’s blood is not required during routine use. However, ischemic stroke can still occur in these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with new oral anticoagulants. Our multicenter retrospective study involved 2032 patients with acute ischemic stroke. The experimental group consisted of 256 patients with acute ischemic stroke and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, who were treated with new oral anticoagulants. The control group consisted of 1776 ischemic stroke patients without coexisting atrial fibrillation. The results of our study show that patients with atrial fibrillation treated with new oral anticoagulants are more likely to display thrombotic, proatherogenic, and proinflammatory factors in addition to the embolic factors associated with atrial fibrillation. Therefore, solely taking new oral anticoagulants is insufficient in protecting this group of patients from ischemic stroke.

A Study on First Ischemic Stroke Patients for Prevalence of Extracranial Carotid Artery Stenosis and Risk Factors: Our Experience in Northeast India and Review of Literature

Objective: To assess the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and risk factors in stroke patients of northeast India. This is a prospective hospital-based study on 157 first ischemic stroke patients of the region. Method: A total of 157 patients presenting with first ever sudden onset focal neurological deficit lasting for more than 24 hours due to acute ischemic brain infarction were selected, after excluding other causes of focal neurological deficit by imaging. All extracranial carotid arteries were evaluated with carotid ultrasonography. Forty-four patients also had computed tomography (CT) angiography of intracranial and extracranial arteries. Risk factors of stroke were recorded for each patient. Results: Only 8.92% patients had significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis. There was high prevalence of intracranial artery stenosis compared to extracranial artery stenosis in patients who had CT angiography. There was high prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Increased age and male sex were important factors associated with first ischemic stroke. Conclusion: The prevalence of significant extracranial carotid artery stenosis is low in northeast Indian patients with first ischemic stroke, indicating that it is not a major cause of ischemic stroke in this population. There may be high prevalence of intracranial artery stenosis compared to extracranial artery stenosis.

Stroke risk factors in patients with end-stage kidney disease: current status of the problem

Chronic kidney disease and its complications are one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability and mortality in the world population, due to both the widespread prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease, and the increase in life expectancy. In the terminal stage of chronic kidney disease, mortality from cardiovascular events increases significantly. This review examines the most common risk factors for stroke in end-stage kidney disease. The role of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart failure is discussed, taking into account common risk factors, hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the development of oxidative stress, volume overload with an increase in the size of the left atrium and a subsequent increase in the risk of thrombosis and stroke in patients with end-stage kidney disease on programmed hemodialysis. In addition, data are presented in the study of the contribution of bone mineral disorders to the occurrence of cerebral complications in this category of patients. Timely diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and secondary prevention of stroke, including adequate antihypertensive, hypoglycemic therapy and correction of heart failure with blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, as well as the elimination of bone mineral disorders are currently a very popular approach to improving the quality of life and increased survival in the discussed category of patients. Understanding the pathogenetic mechanism of stroke in patients with end-stage kidney disease on programmed hemodialysis, with the study of risk factors in the development of an acute cerebrovascular accident, will help to develop a strategy for their management.

Cerebral Embolism Beyond Atrial Fibrillation: Interatrial Block

This paper is devoted to conditions that imply a risk for cerebral embolism beyond atrial fibrillation (AF). We focus on advanced interatrial block (IAB) and its relationship with stroke in elderly patients with no documented arrhythmias. Advanced IAB is manifested in the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) as a P-wave duration &gt;120 ms plus biphasic morphology (positive and negative deflection) in leads II, III, and aVF. Several data suggest that AF is not necessarily the leading cause of stroke, but rather a risk factor. In fact, a high stroke risk has been described even in the absence of AF in patients with high CHA2DS2VASc-score (Congestive Heart failure, hypertension, Age ≥75 years [doubled], Diabetes, Stroke [doubled], Vascular disease, Age 65-74 years, Sex category [female sex]). Moreover, excessive atrial ectopy and short atrial runs also increase stroke risk. Some of the previously mentioned stroke risk factors in patients without documented arrhythmias might be combined to determine thrombotic risk. That risk is particularly high in elderly patients with advanced IAB, structural heart disease, CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥3, and frequent ambient atrial arrhythmias. Systematic screening for advanced IAB in elderly patients can be performed with a simple surface ECG. Advanced IAB is a risk marker of stroke.