Associations of Medicaid Expansion With Access to Care, Severity, and Outcomes for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Multiple states have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, resulting in higher uninsured rates in states with high stroke burdens. This study aimed to evaluate the association of Medicaid expansion with changes in health insurance coverage, severity of presentation, access to care, and outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: A retrospective, difference-in-differences analysis of Get With The Guidelines–Stroke registry data. The study population comprised first-time ischemic stroke admissions from 2012 to 2018 for patients aged 19 to 64 in 45 states (27 that expanded Medicaid and 18 that did not). A probable low-income cohort was defined based on having Medicaid, no insurance/self-pay, or undocumented insurance. Outcomes analyzed were indicators of health insurance status, stroke severity, use of emergency services, time to acute care, in-hospital mortality, receipt of rehabilitation, discharge disposition, and level of disability. Results: In the starting population (N=342 765), Medicaid-covered stroke admissions rose from 12.2% to 18.1% in expansion states and from 10.0% to only 10.6% in nonexpansion states, while uninsured admissions declined from 15.0% to 6.7% in expansion states and from 24.0% to 19.2% in nonexpansion states. In the low-income cohort (N=95 086; 28% of starting population), Medicaid expansion was associated with increased odds of discharge to a skilled nursing facility (adjusted odds ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.12–1.59]) and transfer to any rehabilitation facility among those eligible (adjusted odds ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.08–1.41]) and lower odds of discharge home (adjusted odds ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.80–0.98]). Expansion was not associated with any other outcomes. Conclusions: Medicaid expansion is associated with fewer uninsured hospitalizations for acute ischemic stroke and increased rehabilitation at skilled nursing facilities. More targeted interventions may be needed to improve other stroke outcomes in the low-income US population. Future research should evaluate the impact of health care reform on primary stroke prevention.

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Eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio is a potential biomarker in the prediction of functional outcome among patients with acute ischemic stroke

BMC Neuroscience ◽

10.1186/s12868-021-00610-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shuhong Yu ◽

Yi Luo ◽

Tan Zhang ◽

Chenrong Huang ◽

Yu Fu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Functional Outcome ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Poor Outcome ◽

Net Reclassification Improvement ◽

Potential Biomarker ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship ◽

Integrated Discrimination Improvement

Abstract Background It has been shown that eosinophils are decreased and monocytes are elevated in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but the impact of eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR) on clinical outcomes among AIS patients remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relationship between EMR on admission and 3-month poor functional outcome in AIS patients. Methods A total of 521 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital within 24 h after onset of AIS were prospectively enrolled and categorized in terms of quartiles of EMR on admission between August 2016 and September 2018. The endpoint was the poor outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 3 to 6 at month 3 after admission. Results As EMR decreased, the risk of poor outcome increased (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that EMR was independently associated with poor outcome after adjusting potential confounders (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% CI 0.03–0.34; p = 0.0003), which is consistent with the result of EMR (quartile) as a categorical variable (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% CI 0.10–0.52; ptrend < 0.0001). A non-linear relationship was detected between EMR and poor outcome, whose point was 0.28. Subgroup analyses further confirmed these associations. The addition of EMR to conventional risk factors improved the predictive power for poor outcome (net reclassification improvement: 2.61%, p = 0.382; integrated discrimination improvement: 2.41%, p < 0.001). Conclusions EMR on admission was independently correlated with poor outcome in AIS patients, suggesting that EMR may be a potential prognostic biomarker for AIS.

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Achieving More Rapid Door-to-Needle Times and Improved Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Nationwide Quality Improvement Intervention

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.121.035853 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ying Xian ◽

Haolin Xu ◽

Eric E. Smith ◽

Jeffrey L. Saver ◽

Mathew J. Reeves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Quality Improvement ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Thrombolytic Therapy ◽

Phase I ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Symptom Onset ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

The United States

Background and Purpose: The benefits of tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) in acute ischemic stroke are time-dependent. However, delivery of thrombolytic therapy rapidly after hospital arrival was initially occurring infrequently in hospitals in the United States, discrepant with national guidelines. Methods: We evaluated door-to-needle (DTN) times and clinical outcomes among patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving tPA before and after initiation of 2 successive nationwide quality improvement initiatives: Target: Stroke Phase I (2010–2013) and Target: Stroke Phase II (2014–2018) from 913 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke hospitals in the United States between April 2003 and September 2018. Results: Among 154 221 patients receiving tPA within 3 hours of stroke symptom onset (median age 72 years, 50.1% female), median DTN times decreased from 78 minutes (interquartile range, 60–98) preintervention, to 66 minutes (51–87) during Phase I, and 50 minutes (37–66) during Phase II ( P <0.001). Proportions of patients with DTN ≤60 minutes increased from 26.4% to 42.7% to 68.6% ( P <0.001). Proportions of patients with DTN ≤45 minutes increased from 10.1% to 17.7% to 41.4% ( P <0.001). By the end of the second intervention, 75.4% and 51.7% patients achieved 60-minute and 45-minute DTN goals. Compared with the preintervention period, hospitals during the second intervention period (2014–2018) achieved higher rates of tPA use (11.7% versus 5.6%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.43 [95% CI, 2.31–2.56]), lower in-hospital mortality (6.0% versus 10.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.69 [0.64–0.73]), fewer bleeding complication (3.4% versus 5.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.68 [0.62–0.74]), and higher rates of discharge to home (49.6% versus 35.7%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.43 [1.38–1.50]). Similar findings were found in sensitivity analyses of 185 501 patients receiving tPA within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. Conclusions: A nationwide quality improvement program for acute ischemic stroke was associated with substantial improvement in the timeliness of thrombolytic therapy start, increased thrombolytic treatment, and improved clinical outcomes.

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B.01 Predictors of dysphagia screening after acute ischemic stroke: Who gets tested?

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/cjn.2016.60 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (S2) ◽

pp. S9-S9

Author(s):

RA Joundi ◽

R Martino ◽

G Saposnik ◽

J Fang ◽

V Giannakeas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Stroke Unit ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Process Of Care ◽

Stroke Registry ◽

Multivariable Regression ◽

Mild Stroke

Background: Dysphagia is a devastating complication of stroke and can lead to malnutrition, immobility, aspiration pneumonia, and death. Guidelines advocate screening all patients with acute stroke for swallowing impairment. However, previous research suggests only 60% are screened, and it is unclear what factors contribute to receiving dysphagia screening. Methods: We used the Ontario Stroke Registry to identify patients who were admitted to Regional Stroke Centres from 2010-2013. We used multivariable regression to identify predictors of receiving a dysphagia screen within 72 hours. Results: Among 7172 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 1705 patients (23.8%) did not undergo screening. Factors increasing the odds of being tested were: Stroke unit admission (adjusted odds ratio aOR 6.5), presenting with speech deficits (aOR 1.9) or weakness (aOR 1.5), or receiving thrombolysis (aOR 1.9). Seizure (aOR 0.49) and mild stroke (aOR 0.59 vs moderate stroke) decreased the odds of being tested. Among those with mild strokes who received a swallowing screen, 33% failed. *All p<0.0001. Conclusions: Patients with mild stroke are at risk of not being screened for dysphagia, despite a significant fail rate among those tested. This may expose untested patients to a higher risk of complications from dysphagia, and suggests a gap in process of care that should be addressed.

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Medicaid Expansion and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Readmission After Acute Ischemic Stroke

INQUIRY The Journal of Health Care Organization Provision and Financing ◽

10.1177/00469580211062438 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 ◽

pp. 004695802110624

Author(s):

Blake T. McGee ◽

Seiyoun Kim ◽

Dawn M. Aycock ◽

Matthew J. Hayat ◽

Karen B. Seagraves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Low Income ◽

Medicaid Expansion ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Predicted Probability ◽

Hispanic Patients ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Racial Ethnic ◽

White Patients

To examine whether rates of 30-day readmission after acute ischemic stroke changed differentially between Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states, and whether race/ethnicity moderated this change, we conducted a difference-in-differences analysis using 6 state inpatient databases (AR, FL, GA, MD, NM, and WA) from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Analysis included all patients aged 19-64 hospitalized in 2012–2015 with a principal diagnosis of ischemic stroke and a primary payer of Medicaid, self-pay, or no charge, who resided in the state where admitted and were discharged alive (N=28 330). No association was detected between Medicaid expansion and readmission overall, but there was evidence of moderation by race/ethnicity. The predicted probability of all-cause readmission among non-Hispanic White patients rose an estimated 2.6 percentage points (or 39%) in expansion states but not in non-expansion states, whereas it increased by 1.5 percentage points (or 23%) for non-White and Hispanic patients in non-expansion states. Therefore, Medicaid expansion was associated with a rise in readmission probability that was 4.0 percentage points higher for non-Hispanic Whites compared to other racial/ethnic groups, after adjustment for covariates. Similar trends were observed when unplanned and potentially preventable readmissions were isolated. Among low-income stroke survivors, we found evidence that 2 years of Medicaid expansion promoted rehospitalization, but only for White patients. Future studies should verify these findings over a longer follow-up period.

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Factors Associated with Procedural Thromboembolisms after Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina56070353 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (7) ◽

pp. 353

Author(s):

Taek Min Nam ◽

Ji Hwan Jang ◽

Young Zoon Kim ◽

Kyu Hong Kim ◽

Seung Hwan Kim

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

Cutoff Value ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Procedural Time

Background and objective: Procedural thromboembolisms after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke has rarely been studied. We retrospectively evaluated factors associated with procedural thromboembolisms after MT using diffusion-weight imaging (DWI) within 2 days of MT. Materials and Methods: From January 2018 to March 2020, 78 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent MT were evaluated using DWI. Procedural thromboembolisms were defined as new cerebral infarctions in other territories from the occluded artery on DWI after MT. Results: Procedural thromboembolisms were observed on DWI in 16 patients (20.5%). Procedural thromboembolisms were associated with old age (73.8 ± 8.18 vs. 66.8 ± 11.2 years, p = 0.021), intravenous (IV) thrombolysis (12 out of 16 (75.0%) vs. 25 out of 62 (40.3%), p = 0.023), heparinization (4 out of 16 (25.0%) vs. 37 out of 62 (59.7%), p = 0.023), and longer procedural time (90.9 ± 35.6 vs. 64.4 ± 33.0 min, p = 0.006). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that procedural thromboembolisms were independently associated with procedural time (adjusted odds ratio (OR); 1.020, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.002–1.039, p = 0.030) and IV thrombolysis (adjusted OR; 4.697, 95% CI; 1.223–18.042, p = 0.024). The cutoff value of procedural time for predicting procedural thromboembolisms was ≥71 min (area under the curve; 0.711, 95% CI; 0.570–0.851, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Procedural thromboembolisms after MT for acute ischemic stroke are significantly associated with longer procedural time and IV thrombolysis. This study suggests that patients with IV thrombolysis and longer procedural time (≥71 min) are at a higher risk of procedural thromboembolisms after MT for acute ischemic stroke.

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Impact of Initial Imaging Protocol on Likelihood of Endovascular Stroke Therapy

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.030122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (10) ◽

pp. 3055-3063 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Victor Lopez-Rivera ◽

Rania Abdelkhaleq ◽

Jose-Miguel Yamal ◽

Noopur Singh ◽

Sean I. Savitz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Time Window ◽

Tissue Type ◽

Stroke Therapy ◽

Imaging Protocol ◽

Head Ct ◽

The Impact ◽

Endovascular Stroke Therapy

Background and Purpose: Noncontrast head CT and CT perfusion (CTP) are both used to screen for endovascular stroke therapy (EST), but the impact of imaging strategy on likelihood of EST is undetermined. Here, we examine the influence of CTP utilization on likelihood of EST in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO). Methods: We identified patients with acute ischemic stroke at 4 comprehensive stroke centers. All 4 hospitals had 24/7 CTP and EST capability and were covered by a single physician group (Neurology, NeuroIntervention, NeuroICU). All centers performed noncontrast head CT and CT angiography in the initial evaluation. One center also performed CTP routinely with high CTP utilization (CTP-H), and the others performed CTP optionally with lower utilization (CTP-L). Primary outcome was likelihood of EST. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether facility type (CTP-H versus CTP-L) was associated with EST adjusting for age, prestroke mRS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, LVO location, time window, and intravenous tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator). Results: Among 3107 patients with acute ischemic stroke, 715 had LVO, of which 403 (56%) presented to CTP-H and 312 (44%) presented to CTP-L. CTP utilization among LVO patients was greater at CTP-H centers (72% versus 18%, CTP-H versus CTP-L, P <0.01). In univariable analysis, EST rates for patients with LVO were similar between CTP-H versus CTP-L (46% versus 49%). In multivariable analysis, patients with LVO were less likely to undergo EST at CTP-H (odds ratio, 0.59 [0.41–0.85]). This finding was maintained in multiple patient subsets including late time window, anterior circulation LVO, and direct presentation patients. Ninety-day functional independence (odds ratio, 1.04 [0.70–1.54]) was not different, nor were rates of post-EST PH-2 hemorrhage (1% versus 1%). Conclusions: We identified an increased likelihood for undergoing EST in centers with lower CTP utilization, which was not associated with worse clinical outcomes or increased hemorrhage. These findings suggest under-treatment bias with routine CTP.

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Admission Blood Pressure in Relation to Clinical Outcomes and Successful Reperfusion After Endovascular Stroke Treatment

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.029907 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (11) ◽

pp. 3205-3214

Author(s):

Sophie A. van den Berg ◽

Simone M. Uniken Venema ◽

Maxim J.H.L. Mulder ◽

Kilian M. Treurniet ◽

Noor Samuels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Lower Probability ◽

Modified Rankin Scale ◽

Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background and Purpose: Optimal blood pressure (BP) targets before endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke are unknown. We aimed to assess the relation between admission BP and clinical outcomes and successful reperfusion after EVT. Methods: We used data from the MR CLEAN (Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands) Registry, an observational, prospective, nationwide cohort study of patients with ischemic stroke treated with EVT in routine clinical practice in the Netherlands. Baseline systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were recorded on admission. The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. Secondary outcomes included successful reperfusion (extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2B-3), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and 90-day mortality. Multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to assess the associations of SBP and DBP with outcomes. The relations between BPs and outcomes were tested for nonlinearity. Parameter estimates were calculated per 10 mm Hg increase or decrease in BP. Results: We included 3180 patients treated with EVT between March 2014 and November 2017. The relations between admission SBP and DBP with 90-day modified Rankin Scale scores and mortality were J-shaped, with inflection points around 150 and 81 mm Hg, respectively. An increase in SBP above 150 mm Hg was associated with poor functional outcome (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.04–1.15]) and mortality at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.03–1.16]). Following linear relationships, higher SBP was associated with a lower probability of successful reperfusion (adjusted odds ratio, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.94–0.99]) and with the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.99–1.13]). Results for DBP were largely similar. Conclusions: In patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EVT, higher admission BP is associated with lower probability of successful reperfusion and with poor clinical outcomes. Further research is needed to investigate whether these patients benefit from BP reduction before EVT.

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Prestroke Disability and Outcome After Thrombectomy for Emergent Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012827 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012827

Author(s):

Adam de Havenon ◽

Alicia Castonguay ◽

Raul Nogueira ◽

Thanh N. Nguyen ◽

Joey English ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Large Vessel Occlusion ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Anterior Circulation ◽

Vessel Occlusion

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of endovascular therapy for large vessel occlusion stroke in patients with pre-morbid disability versus those without.MethodsWe performed a post-hoc analysis of the TREVO Stent-Retriever Acute Stroke (TRACK) Registry, which collected data on 634 consecutive stroke patients treated with the Trevo device as first-line EVT at 23 centers in the United States. We included patients with internal carotid or middle cerebral (M1/M2 segment) artery occlusions and the study exposure was patient- or caregiver-reported premorbid modified Rank Scale (mRS) ≥2 (premorbid disability, PD) versus premorbid mRS score 0-1 (no premorbid disability, NPD). The primary outcome was no accumulated disability, defined as no increase in 90-day mRS from the patient’s pre-morbid mRS.ResultsOf the 634 patients in TRACK, 407 patients were included in our cohort, of which 53/407 (13.0%) had PD. The primary outcome of no accumulated disability was achieved in 37.7% (20/53) of patients with PD and 16.7% (59/354) of patients with NPD (p<0.001), while death occurred in 39.6% (21/53) and 14.1% (50/354) (p<0.001), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of no accumulated disability for PD patients was 5.2 (95% CI 2.4-11.4, p<0.001) compared to patients with NPD. However, the adjusted odds ratio for death in PD patients was 2.90 (95% CI 1.38-6.09, p=0.005).ConclusionsIn this study of anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke patients treated with EVT, we found that premorbid disability was associated with a higher probability of not accumulating further disability compared to patients with no premorbid disability, but also with higher probability of death.Classification of EvidenceThis study provides Class II evidence that in anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke treated with EVT, patients with premorbid disability compared to those without disability were more likely not to accumulate more disability but were more likely to die. 

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Abstract WMP92: Quality of Care and Outcomes for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Admitted During the International Stroke Conference

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.wmp92 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Steven R Messe ◽

Michael T Mullen ◽

Marguerrite Cox ◽

Gregg Fonarow ◽

Eric E Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Quality Of Care ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Multivariable Analysis ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Time Periods ◽

Iv Tpa

Introduction: Patients who present to the hospital during off-hours receive sub-optimal care and experience worse outcomes, often attributed to reduced staffing. It is unknown whether stroke patients receive less guideline-adherent care and experience worse outcomes when medical providers attend scientific meetings. The AHA International Stroke Conference (ISC) is the premier US conference for cerebrovascular disease and is well attended by stroke clinicians. Methods: The national Get With The Guidelines - Stroke (GWTG-Stroke) dataset was analyzed from 2009-2015 to identify acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients admitted during: 1) the week of ISC, and 2) the 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after ISC. We compared adherence to GWTG-Stroke quality measures and outcomes for AIS patients admitted during these two time periods using univariable and multivariable analysis, including both patient and hospital level variables. Results: Overall, 69,738 AIS patients were included, mean age 72, 52% female, and 29% non-white. There was no difference between the average weekly number of AIS cases admitted during ISC weeks versus non-ISC weeks (1,984 vs 1,997, p= 0.95). Patient and hospital characteristics were also similar between ISC vs. non-ISC time periods. No significant differences were noted in 14 quality of care metrics and 5 clinical outcomes between AIS patients treated during ISC vs. non-ISC weeks (Table). After adjusting for potential confounders, among patients who presented within 2 hours of onset there was no difference in the likelihood of receiving IV tPA within 3 hours (adjusted odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77 - 1.03, p=0.13), nor in the likelihood of receiving IV tPA within 60 minutes of arrival (adjusted odds ratio 0.92, 95% CI 0.83 - 1.02, p=0.13). Conclusions: The treatment and outcome of patients who present with AIS to a GWTG-Stroke participating hospital are not degraded during the week of the International Stroke Conference.

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Blood Pressure and Early Clinical Outcome Among Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/s0317167100011379 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 225-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jintao Zhang ◽

Ying Peng ◽

Huanqing Fan ◽

Mei Chen ◽

Tan Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Short Term ◽

Tomography Scan

ABSTRACT:Objectives:The association between blood pressure (BP) and short-term clinical outcome of acute ischemic stroke is inconclusive. We investigated the association between BP in the first 72 hours following admission and death in-hospital and neurologic deficiency at discharge among patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:A total of 2675 acute ischemic stroke patients confirmed by a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging were included in the present study. Blood pressure in the first 72 hours after admission and other study variables were collected for all ischemic stroke patients. Neurological functions National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were evaluated by trained neurologists at discharge. The study outcome was defined as death in-hospital and neurologic deficiency (NIHSS≥10) at discharge.Results:Systolic and diastolic BP were significantly and positively associated with odds of study outcome in acute ischemic stroke. For example, compared to those with a systolic BP<140 mmHg, multiple-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of study outcome was 3.29(1.22, 8.90) among participants with systolic BP of 180-219 mmHg,P<0.05; compared to those with a diastolic BP<90 mmHg, multiple-adjusted odds ratio of study outcome was 7.05(1.32, 37.57) among participants with diastolic BP ≥ 120 mmHg,P<0.05.Conclusion:Systolic BP≥180 and diastolic BP≥120 were significantly and positively associated with death in-hospital or neurologic deficiency at discharge among patients with acute ischemic stroke.

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