scholarly journals The outcomes of statin therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke in Taiwan: a nationwide epidemiologic study

QJM ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 891-899
Author(s):  
H -C Lin ◽  
J -R Lin ◽  
W -C Tsai ◽  
C -H Lu ◽  
W -N Chang ◽  
...  

Summary Background Acute stroke is the third leading cause of death in Taiwan. Although statin therapy is widely recommended for stroke prevention, little is known about the epidemiology of statin therapy after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in Taiwan. To investigate the effects of statin therapy on recurrent stroke, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), coronary artery disease (CAD), cost of hospitalization and mortality, we conducted a nationwide population-based epidemiologic study. Methods Cases of AIS were identified from the annual hospitalization discharge diagnoses of the National Health Insurance Research Database with the corresponding International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision codes from January 2001 to December 2010. We divided the AIS patients into three groups: non-statin, pre-stroke statin and post-stroke statin. Results A total of 422 671 patients with AIS (including 365 419 cases in the non-statin group, 22 716 cases in the pre-stroke statin group and 34 536 cases in the post-stroke statin group) were identified. When compared to the non-statin group, both statin groups had a lower recurrent stroke risk [pre-stroke statin: odds ratio (OR) = 0.84; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.82–0.87; P < 0.0001; post-stroke statin: OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.86–0.91; P < 0.0001], lower ICH risk (pre-statin: OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.69–0.82; P < 0.0001; post-stroke statin: OR = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.71–0.81; P < 0.0001), and a lower mortality rate (pre-stroke statin: OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.53–0.59; P < 0.0001; post-stroke statin: OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.48–0.53; P < 0.0001). In terms of CAD, only the post-statin group had a lower risk (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.79–0.84; P < 0.0001) than the non-statin group. The post-statin group had the lowest 1-year medical costs after index discharge among the three groups. Conclusions Statin therapy reduced the risks of recurrent stroke, CAD, ICH and the first year mortality in patients after AIS. Treatment with statin therapy after AIS is a cost-effective strategy in Taiwan.

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Yu Hsu ◽  
Chun-Yu Cheng ◽  
Jiann-Der Lee ◽  
Meng Lee ◽  
Bruce Ovbiagele

Abstract Objective We aim to compare the effect of long-term anti-seizure medication (ASM) monotherapy on the risk of death and new ischemic stroke in patients with post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Patients and methods We identified all hospitalized patients (≥ 20 years) with a primary diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke from 2001 to 2012 using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The PSE cohort were defined as the stroke patients (1) who had no epilepsy and no ASMs use before the index stroke, and (2) who had epilepsy and ASMs use after 14 days from the stroke onset. The patients with PSE receiving ASM monotherapy were enrolled and were categorized into phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and new ASM groups. We employed the Cox regression model to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of death and new ischemic stroke within 5 years across all groups, using the new ASM group as the reference. Results Of 6962 patients with PSE using ASM monotherapy, 3917 (56 %) were on phenytoin, 1623 (23 %) on valproic acid, 457 (7 %) on carbamazepine, and 965 (14 %) on new ASMs. After adjusting for confounders, compared with new ASM users, phenytoin users had a higher risk of death in 5 years (HR: 1.64; 95 % CI: 1.06–2.55). On the other hand, all ASM groups showed a similar risk of new ischemic stroke in 5 years. Conclusions Among patients with PSE on first-line monotherapy, compared to new ASMs, use of phenytoin was associated with a higher risk of death in 5 years.


2018 ◽  
Vol 80 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 163-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingyu Chen ◽  
Xiaorong Zhuang ◽  
Zhongwei Peng ◽  
Huili Yang ◽  
Liangyi Chen ◽  
...  

Background: To assess whether intensive statin therapy reduces the occurrence of microemboli in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke within 72 h of onset were randomized to the intensive statin (atorvastatin 60 mg/day, adjusted to 20 mg/day after 7 days) and control (atorvastatin 20 mg/day) groups. Combined aspirin and clopidogrel were used for antiplatelet therapy. Microemboli were monitored by transcranial Doppler on days 1 (pre-treatment), 3, and 7. Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score were assessed on days 1 and 7. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used on day 90. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with microemboli on day 3. Results: There were 35 (58.3%) and 30 (52.6%) patients with microemboli in the intensive statin (n = 60) and control (n = 57) groups, respectively, on day 1 (p = 0.342). On day 3, there were significantly less microemboli in the intensive statin group (n = 9; 15.0%) compared with controls (n = 16; 28.1%; p = 0.002). No difference was observed in MMP-9 and hs-CRP levels on day 1, but on day 7, MMP-9 (median 79.3 vs. 95.9 μg/L; p = 0.004) and hs-CRP (median 2.01 vs. 3.60 mg/L; p = 0.020) levels were lower in the intensive statin group compared with controls. There were no differences in NIHSS scores on days 1 and 7. There was no difference in mRS on day 90. Conclusion: Intensive atorvastatin therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke reduces the occurrence of microemboli and inflammation, with no overt adverse events.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Yu Hsu ◽  
Chun-Yu Cheng ◽  
Jiann-Der Lee ◽  
Meng Lee ◽  
Bruce Ovbiagele

Abstract Objective We aim to compare the effect of long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) monotherapy on the risk of death and recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with post-stroke epilepsy (PSE). Patients and Methods We identified all hospitalized patients (≥20 years) with a primary diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke from 2001 to 2012 using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. The PSE cohorts were defined as the stroke patients (1) who had no epilepsy and no AEDs use before the index stroke, and (2) who had epilepsy and AEDs use after 14 days from the stroke onset. The PSE patients receiving AED monotherapy were enrolled and were categorized into phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and new AED groups. We employed the Cox regression model to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of death and recurrent ischemic stroke within 5 years across all groups, using the new AED group as the reference. Results Of 6962 PSE patients using AED monotherapy, 3917 (56%) were on phenytoin, 1623 (23%) on valproic acid, 457 (7%) on carbamazepine, and 965 (14%) on new AEDs. After adjusting for confounders, compared with new AED users, phenytoin users had a higher risk of death in 5 years (HR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06-2.55). On the other hand, all AED groups showed a similar risk of recurrent ischemic stroke. Conclusion Among PSE patients on first-line monotherapy, compared to new AEDs, use of phenytoin was associated with a higher risk of death in 5 years.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazutaka Uchida ◽  
Shinichi Yoshimura ◽  
Nobuyuki Sakai ◽  
Hiroshi Yamagami ◽  
Takeshi Morimoto ◽  
...  

Background: Statin therapy was reported to be associated with lower risk of recurrence of stroke and better functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, the effect of statin therapy in patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) was not well scrutinized. Thus, we evaluated the effect of statin administration after the onset of stroke on functional outcome based on the large registry study of acute LVO. Methods: RESCUE-Japan Registry-2 was a physician initiated registry study enrolled consecutive patients with acute LVO who were admitted within 24 hours of onset. We compared those with and without statin after onset in terms of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. We estimated the common odds ratio (OR) for a shift towards better mRS adjusting for confounders. Result: Among 2420patients registered, 2399 patients were eligible. Mean age was 75.9 years and men accounted for 55%. Statin were administered in 447 patients(19%) after admission. There are more atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (statin group: 34.2% vs non-statin group: 12.1%, p <0.0001), younger age (73.4 vs 76.5, p <0.0001), and lower NIHSS on admission (14 vs 17, p <0.0001) in the statin group. The adjusted common OR of the statin group was 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 - 1.37; p =0.02) compared with the non-statin group. The safety profile was similar between groups. The mortality at 90 days was 4.7 % in the statin group lower than 12.5 % in the non-statin group (p <0.0001). The adjusted OR of statin group for mortality was 0.36 (95%CI 0.21 to 0.62, p = 0.022). Conclusions: Statin administration after onset of acute LVO was significantly associated with better functional outcome and mortality within 90 days. Our findings should be attested by randomized clinical trials in patients with acute LVO in future


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-321
Author(s):  
Jiaying Zhu ◽  
Mengmeng Ma ◽  
Jinghuan Fang ◽  
Jiajia Bao ◽  
Shuju Dong ◽  
...  

Background: Statin therapy has been shown to be effective in the prevention of ischemic stroke. In addition, recent studies have suggested that prior statin therapy could lower the initial stroke severity and improve stroke functional outcomes in the event of stroke. It was speculated that prestroke statin use may enhance collateral circulation and result in favorable functional outcomes. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the association of prestroke statin use with leptomeningeal collaterals and to determine the association of prestroke statin use with stroke severity and functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: We prospectively and consecutively enrolled 239 acute ischemic stroke patients with acute infarction due to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery within 24 h in the neurology department of West China Hospital from May 2011 to April 2017. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) imaging was performed for all patients to detect middle cerebral artery thrombus; regional leptomeningeal collateral score (rLMCS) was used to assess the degree of collateral circulation; the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to measure stroke severity at admission; the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was used to measure outcome at 90 days; and premorbid medications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Overall, 239 patients met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-four patients used statins, and 185 did not use statins before stroke onset. Prestroke statin use was independently associated with good collateral circulation (rLMCS > 10) (odds ratio [OR], 4.786; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.195–19.171; P = 0.027). Prestroke statin use was not independently associated with lower stroke severity (NIHSS score≤14) (OR, 1.955; 95% CI, 0.657–5.816; p = 0.228), but prestroke statin use was independently associated with favorable outcome (mRS score≤2) (OR, 3.868; 95% CI, 1.325–11.289; P = 0.013). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that prestroke statin use was associated with good leptomeningeal collaterals and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients presenting with occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. However, clinical studies should be conducted to verify this claim.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam de Havenon ◽  
Nabeel Chauhan ◽  
Jennifer Majersik ◽  
David Tirschwell ◽  
Ka-Ho Wong ◽  
...  

Introduction: Enhancing intracranial atherosclerotic plaque on high-resolution vessel wall MRI (vwMRI) is a reliable marker of recent thromboembolism, and confers a recurrent stroke risk of up to 30% a year. Post-contrast plaque enhancement (PPE) on vwMRI is thought to represent inflammation, but studies have not fully examined the clinical, serologic or radiologic factors that contribute to PPE. Methods: Inpatients with acute ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis were prospectively enrolled at a single center from 2015-16. vwMRI was performed on a 3T Siemens Verio and included 3D DANTE pulse sequences, pre- and post-contrast (for PPE identification). Three experienced neuroradiologists interpreted vwMRI using a validated multicontrast technique. The Chi-squared, Fisher’s Exact, and Student’s t-test were used for intergroup differences, and logistic regression was fitted to the primary outcome of PPE. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 35 patients. Atherosclerotic plaques were in the anterior circulation in 21/35 (60%) and PPE was diagnosed in 20/35 (57%) of stroke parent arteries. PPE predictors are shown in Table 1 with logistic regression in Table 2 . Conclusion: PPE is associated with stenosis, which was expected, but the association with HgbA1c is novel. All patients with HgbA1c >8 had PPE and a one point HgbA1c rise increased the odds of PPE 3-fold. Hyperglycemia induces vascular oxidative stress by generating reactive oxygen species, quenching nitric oxide, and triggering an inflammatory cascade. Given the high rate of stroke recurrence in PPE patients, aggressive HgbA1c reduction may be a viable treatment target and warrants additional study.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon-tae Kim ◽  
Hee-Joon Bae ◽  

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and large artery diseases (LAD) share several risk factors and often coexist in the same patient. Optimal treatments for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with concomitant AF and LAD have not been extensively studied so far. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the addition of antiplatelet (AP) to oral anticoagulant (OAC) with that of OAC alone in AIS with AF according to the LAD. Methods: Using a multicenter stroke registry, acute (within 48h of onset) and mild-to-moderate (NIHSS score ≤15) stroke patients with AF were identified. Propensity scores using IPTW were used to adjust baseline imbalances between the OAC+AP group and the OAC alone group in all patients and in each subgroup by LAD. The primary outcome was major vascular events, defined as the composite of recurrent stroke, MI, and all-cause mortality at up to 3 months after index stroke. Results: Among the 5469 patients (age, 72±10yrs; male, 54.9%; initial NIHSS score, 4 [2-9]), 79.0% (n=4323) received OAC alone, and 21.0% (n=1146) received OAC+AP. By weighted Cox proportional hazards analysis, a tendency of increasing the risk of 3-months primary composite events in the OAC+AP group vs the OAC alone (HR 1.36 [0.99-1.87], p=0.06), with significant interaction with treatments and LAD (Pint=0.048). Briefly, among patients with moderate-to-severe large artery stenosis, tendency of decrease in 3-months primary composite events of the OAC+AP group, compared with OAC alone group, was observed (HR 0.54 [0.17-1.70]), whereas among patients with complete occlusion, the OAC+AP group markedly increased the risk of 3-months composite events (HR 2.00 [1.27-3.15]), compared with the OAC alone group. No interaction between direct oral anticoagulant and warfarin on outcome was observed (Pint=0.35). Conclusion: In conclusion, treatment with addition of AP to OAC had a tendency to increase the risk of 3-months vascular events, compared with OAC alone in AIS with AF. However, the effects of antithrombotic treatment could be modified according to the LAD, with substantial benefits of OAC alone in subgroup of large artery occlusion. Our results address the need for the further study to tailor the optimal treatment in AIS with concomitant AF and LAD.


Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guijing Wang ◽  
Heesoo Joo ◽  
Mary G George

Introduction: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) is recommended treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients, but the cost-effectiveness of IV rtPA within different time windows after the onset of acute ischemic stroke is not well reviewed. Objectives: We conducted a literature review of the cost-effectiveness studies about IV rtPA. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and EconLit, with the key words stroke, cost, economic benefit, saving, cost-effectiveness, tissue plasminogen activator, and rtPA. The review is limited to original research articles published during 1995–2014 in English-language peer-reviewed journals. Results: We found 15 studies meeting our criteria for this review. Nine of them were cost-effectiveness studies of IV rtPA treatment within 0-3 hours after stroke onset, 2 studies within 3-4.5 hours, 3 studies within 0-4.5 hours, and 1 study within 0-6 hours. IV rtPA is a cost-saving or a cost-effectiveness strategy from most of the study results. Only one study showed incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of IV rtPA within one year was marginally above $50,000 per QALY threshold. IV rtPA within 0-3 hours after stroke led to cost savings for lifetime or 30 years, and IV rtPA within 3-4.5 hours after stroke increased costs but still was cost-effective. Conclusions: The literature generally showed that intravenous IV rtPA was a dominant or a cost-effective strategy compared to traditional treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients without IV rtPA. The findings from the literature lacked generalizability because of limited data and various assumptions.


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