Abstract TP159: Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients with Atrial Flutter

Introduction: Guidelines advise anticoagulation for patients with both atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL). However, the risk of stroke associated with these two conditions has not been robustly compared. Methods: Using inpatient and outpatient Medicare administrative claims data from 2008-2014 for a 5% sample of all beneficiaries ≥66 years of age, we identified all patients diagnosed with AFL or AF. Patients with prior stroke were excluded. The primary outcome was ischemic stroke. Predictors and the outcome were ascertained by validated ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes. Patients were censored at the time of ischemic stroke, death, or last available follow-up. In the primary analysis, patients with AFL were censored upon diagnosis of AF. Survival statistics were used to compare stroke incidence in patients with AF versus AFL. We used Cox proportional hazards analysis to compare the associations of AFL and AF with ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographics and risk factors. In a secondary analysis, patients with AFL were not censored upon diagnosis of AF because the natural history of AFL frequently features the development of AF. Results: We identified 16,441 patients with AFL and 338,726 with AF. Patients with AFL were less often female (42.4% versus 53.0%), but other baseline characteristics, including mean CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores (3.9), were similar between groups. Over 2.4 (±2.0) years, 16,451 ischemic strokes were identified. The annual incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with AFL was 0.60% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-0.75%), whereas it was 2.00% (95% CI, 1.96-2.02%) in patients with AF. After adjustment for demographics and vascular risk factors, AFL was associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke than AF (hazard ratio [HR], 0.30; 95% CI, 0.24-0.37). Within 1 year, 64.9% (95% CI, 64.1-65.6%) of patients with AFL received a diagnosis of AF. The difference between stroke risk in AFL compared to AF was attenuated (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.79-0.92) when patients with AFL were not censored upon diagnosis of AF. Conclusions: Patients with AFL may face a lower risk of ischemic stroke than patients with AF. However, AF often develops in those with AFL, and taking this into account, the difference in stroke risk between the two conditions grows smaller.

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Gastrointestinal Disorders and Risk of First-Ever Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.120.030643 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (12) ◽

pp. 3577-3583

Author(s):

William H. Roth ◽

Anna Cai ◽

Cenai Zhang ◽

Monica L. Chen ◽

Alexander E. Merkler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Gastrointestinal Disorders ◽

Stroke Risk Factors ◽

Increased Risk

Background and Purpose: Recent studies suggest that alteration of the normal gut microbiome contributes to atherosclerotic burden and cardiovascular disease. While many gastrointestinal diseases are known to cause disruption of the normal gut microbiome in humans, the clinical impact of gastrointestinal diseases on subsequent cerebrovascular disease remains unknown. We conducted an exploratory analysis evaluating the relationship between gastrointestinal diseases and ischemic stroke. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using claims between 2008 and 2015 from a nationally representative 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. We included only beneficiaries ≥66 years of age. We used previously validated diagnosis codes to ascertain our primary outcome of ischemic stroke. In an exploratory manner, we categorized gastrointestinal disorders by anatomic location, disease chronicity, and disease mechanism. We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine associations of gastrointestinal disorder categories and ischemic stroke with adjustment for demographics and established vascular risk factors. Results: Among a mean of 1 725 246 beneficiaries in each analysis, several categories of gastrointestinal disorders were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke after adjustment for established stroke risk factors. The most notable positive associations included disorders of the stomach (hazard ratio, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.15–1.19]) and functional (1.16 [95% CI, 1.15–1.17]), inflammatory (1.13 [95% CI, 1.12–1.15]), and infectious gastrointestinal disorders (1.13 [95% CI, 1.12–1.15]). In contrast, we found no associations with stroke for diseases of the anus and rectum (0.97 [95% CI, 0.94–1.00]) or neoplastic gastrointestinal disorders (0.97 [95% CI, 0.94–1.00]). Conclusions: In exploratory analyses, several categories of gastrointestinal disorders were associated with an increased risk of future ischemic stroke after adjustment for demographics and established stroke risk factors.

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Abstract 19554: Lipoprotein(a) and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.19554 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Kristine S Alexander ◽

Neil A Zakai ◽

Fred Unverzagt ◽

Virginia Wadley ◽

Brett M Kissela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Continuous Variable ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Stroke Incidence ◽

Lipoprotein A ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽

Regards Study

Background: Increased lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is associated with coronary risk, but links with stroke have been less consistent. Blacks have 2-4-fold higher Lp(a) levels than whites, and have higher stroke incidence than whites, but have been under-represented in studies of Lp(a) and stroke to date. Hypothesis: Lp(a) is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, and this risk differs by race. Methods: REGARDS recruited 30,239 black and white U.S. men and women in 2003-7 to study regional and racial differences in stroke mortality. We measured Lp(a) by immunonepholometric assay in 572 cases of incident ischemic stroke and a 1,104-person cohort random sample. The hazard ratio of stroke by baseline Lp(a) was calculated using Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by race. Lp(a) was modeled both as a continuous variable (per sex- and race-specific SD) and in sex- and race-specific quartiles, given known differences in distributions by race and sex. Results: As shown in the Figure, being in the 4 th vs 1 st Lp(a) quartile was associated with ischemic stroke in black but not white participants, adjusted for age and sex (Model 1). The HRs were essentially unchanged with added adjustment for stroke risk factors (Model 2). There was no significant association between Lp(a) as a continuous variable and stroke, though race-specific patterns were similar. There remained no association between Lp(a) and stroke in whites when we used the sex- and race-specific 90 th percentile as a cut-off (HR: 0.91 95% CI: 0.52, 1.60). Discussion: Lp(a) was associated with ischemic stroke risk in black but not white REGARDS participants, this might partly explain the black/white disparity in stroke. Further studies in racially diverse groups are necessary to confirm these findings. Figure 1. Hazard ratios for Lp(a) and stroke in blacks and whites, per quartile (compared with first quartile) and SD.

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Abstract 11900: Influence of Competing Risks on the Association Between Warfarin and Ischemic Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation: The Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.11900 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey M Ashburner ◽

Alan S Go ◽

Yuchiao Chang ◽

Margaret C Fang ◽

Lisa Fredman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Competing Risks ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Subdistribution Hazard ◽

Risk Of Death

Introduction: Studies examining the association between warfarin therapy and incidence of ischemic stroke in adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) have not accounted for patients who die of non-stroke causes. Hypothesis: Accounting for the competing risk of death may provide greater understanding of the “real world” impact of warfarin on stroke risk during multiyear follow-up in a large, diverse cohort of AF patients. Methods: We assessed this association in the ATRIA community-based cohort of AF patients (n=13,559; study years 1996-2003), with thromboembolic (>90% ischemic stroke) events (TEE) being clinician-adjudicated. Extended Cox proportional hazards regression with time-varying warfarin exposure estimated the cause-specific hazard ratio (HR) for TEE while adjusting for stroke risk factors. Fine and Gray subdistribution regression was used to estimate this association while also accounting for competing death events. Results: Patients using warfarin were younger, more likely to have had a prior stroke, and to have known diabetes, coronary disease, and heart failure, and also had higher mean CHA2DS2VASc scores (3.68 vs. 3.22). The death rate was much higher in the non-warfarin group (8.1 deaths/100 person-years; 2637 deaths vs. 5.5 deaths/100 person-years; 1777 deaths on warfarin). The cause-specific HR indicated a large reduction in TE with warfarin use (adjusted HR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.50-0.65). In subdistribution hazard models accounting for competing death events over the full follow-up of 6 years, this association was substantially attenuated (adjusted HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99). In analyses limited to 1-year follow-up with only 648 competing death events, the results without accounting for competing risks (adjusted cause-specific HR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.43-0.71) were similar to the results that did account for competing risks (adjusted subdistribution HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.46-0.75). Conclusions: By accounting for competing death events, our results reflect a more realistic estimate of the multi-year stroke prevention benefits of warfarin for patients with AF. Many old/frail individuals with AF will not live long enough to gain substantial benefit from warfarin.

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Abstract 73: Sex Hormone Binding Globulin: A Novel Hormonal Biomarker for Ischemic Stroke Risk?

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.51.suppl_1.73 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Tracy E Madsen ◽

Xi Luo ◽

Mengna Huang ◽

Ki Park ◽

Marcia L Stefanick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Sex Hormone ◽

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Hormone Binding

Introduction: Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a sex-steroid transporter previously linked to cardiometabolic outcomes such as diabetes (DM) and coronary heart disease and their risk factors. It remains uncertain whether SHBG also affects stroke risk, particularly in women. We investigated whether SHBG affects risk of incident ischemic stroke (IS) among women in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). Methods: The WHI includes randomized trials and an observational cohort of 161808 postmenopausal women enrolled at 40 sites across the U.S. from 1993 - 1998. We identified 13,192 participants free of prevalent stroke at baseline who were included in one of eleven ancillary studies with serum SHBG. Incident IS events through 2017 were identified via physician adjudication of medical records. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to assess IS risk across quartiles of SHBG levels (Q1 - Q4), first adjusted for demographics, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, alcohol use, and smoking status (Model 1). History of DM was added to remove indirect effects through DM (Model 2), followed by the addition of reproductive risk factors and physical activity (Model 3). Results: Of 13,192 participants (mean age 62.5 years, 67.4% non-Hispanic white, 18.5% black, 5.0% Asian, 7.6% Hispanic), 877 IS events were confirmed during follow-up. Compared to the highest SHBG quartile (referent), women in the lowest quartile had a higher risk of IS in all three models (Model 1: HR 1.51, 95%CI 1.23 - 1.86, Model 2: HR 1.46, 95%CI 1.18 - 1.80, Model 3: HR: 1.38, 95%CI 1.07 - 1.76, trend tests p <0.05 for all). Women in the middle quartiles (Q2, Q3) also had increased IS risk compared with those in the highest SHBG quartile (Table). Conclusions: In this prospective cohort of post-menopausal women, there was a statistically significant inverse association between SHBG levels and IS risk, which supports the notion that SHBG could be used as a risk stratification tool for predicting IS in women.

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Consumption of flavonoid-rich fruits, flavonoids from fruits, and stroke risk: a prospective cohort study

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114521000404 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-26

Author(s):

Qi Gao ◽

Jia-Yi Dong ◽

Renzhe Cui ◽

Isao Muraki ◽

Kazumasa Yamagishi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Risk ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Dietary Factors ◽

Citrus Fruits ◽

Proportional Hazards Regression ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Index Study

Abstract We sought to examine the prospective associations of specific fruit consumption, in particular flavonoid-rich fruit (FRF) consumption, with the risk of stroke and subtypes of stroke in a Japanese population. A study followed a total of 39,843 men and 47,334 women aged 44-76 years, and free of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer at baseline since 1995 and 1998 to the end of 2009 and 2012, respectively. Data on total and specific FRF consumption for each participant were obtained using a self-administrated food frequency questionnaire. The hazard ratios (HRs) of stroke in relation to total and specific FRF consumption were estimated through Cox proportional hazards regression models. During a median follow-up of 13.1 years, 4092 incident stroke cases (2557 cerebral infarctions and 1516 hemorrhagic strokes) were documented. After adjustment for age, body mass index, study area, lifestyles, dietary factors, and other risk factors, it was found that total FRF consumption was associated with a significantly lower risk of stroke in women (HR= 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58-0.84), while the association in men was not significant (HR= 0.93; 95% CI, 0.79-1.09). As for specific FRFs, consumptions of citrus fruits, strawberries, and grapes were found associated with a lower stroke risk in women. Higher consumptions of FRFs, in particular citrus fruits, strawberries, and grapes, were associated with a lower risk of developing stroke in Japanese women.

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Abstract TP196: New Zealand Workforce Stroke Incidence: Urban and Rural Risk Factor Evaluation

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.atp196 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Hope E Buell ◽

Patricia Metcalf ◽

Daniel Exeter

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

New Zealand ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Prior History ◽

Stroke Incidence ◽

Stroke Outcomes ◽

The Impact

This analysis aims to assess the impact of urban and rural risk factors on a model of stroke incidence in a New Zealand workforce population. The New Zealand study consisted of 4,926 subjects prospectively enrolled at 46 worksites. The subjects were aged 40-78 years at baseline and had no prior history of stroke. This prospective study defines stroke events experienced by the study subjects during follow-up between 1988 and 2012 based on hospital admission coding. Proportional hazards regression models were fit using baseline characteristics. The difference in stroke outcomes for urban and rural worksites was also evaluated. Results demonstrate that baseline demographic, physical exam, and behavioural measures impact stroke outcomes. While the baseline distribution of stroke risk factors such as Pacific Island ethnicity, smoking status, and increased blood pressure indicates a potentially higher risk of stroke in the rural population, the proportional hazards model does not identify increased stroke risk for rural workers. Additional analysis of the diet, exercise and Quality of Life measures for these subjects may provide further information into the stroke risk profiles of individuals working in different locales.

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Abstract P287: Sex Differences in Stroke Incidence: The REGARDS Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.ap287 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Virginia J Howard ◽

Suzanne E Judd ◽

Abraham J Letter ◽

Dawn O Kleindorfer ◽

Leslie A McClure ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

National Data ◽

Stroke Incidence ◽

The Difference ◽

Regards Study

Background: There are strikingly few national data available to describe sex differences in age-specific stroke incidence. Methods: REGARDS is a national, population-based, longitudinal study of black and white participants aged > 45 years old, with oversampling of blacks and residents of the stroke belt. Between 2003 and 2007, 30,239 participants were enrolled and examined; follow-up is every 6 months by telephone for self- or proxy-reported stroke, with retrieval and adjudication of medical records by physicians. This analysis included 27,756 participants with follow up data who had no physician-diagnosed stroke at baseline. Stroke incidence rates were calculated as the number of stroke events divided by the person-years at risk with 95% confidence limits. Proportional hazards models were used to assess the race-specific association of sex with stroke risk by age strata (<65, 65–74, and 75+) after adjustment for socioeconomic factors, and Framingham stroke risk factors. Results: There were 613 incident strokes events over 135,551 person-years of follow-up. Stroke incidence rates increased with age (from 237/100,000 to 1003/100,000), and were higher in men than women in both blacks and whites (left panel of figure). After multivariable adjustment, men had higher risk than women at younger ages (<75) but for the 65–75 age group, the difference is larger for blacks than whites (right panel of figure). Discussion: These national data confirm the patterns in male/female stroke risk observed in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study, with smaller sex differences at older ages, and for men, larger excess risk in whites than blacks.

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Is migraine a risk factor for pediatric stroke?

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102415576222 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 35 (14) ◽

pp. 1252-1260 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Amy A Gelfand ◽

Heather J Fullerton ◽

Alice Jacobson ◽

Stephen Sidney ◽

Peter J Goadsby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Stroke Incidence ◽

Post Hoc Analysis ◽

Ischemic Stroke Risk ◽

Post Hoc

Importance Our understanding of risk factors for childhood stroke is incomplete. In adults, migraine with aura is associated with a two-fold increase in ischemic stroke risk. Objective In this cohort study we examine the association between migraine and stroke among children in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). Design, setting, and participants Children ages 2–17 years who were members of KPNC for ≥6 months between 1997 and 2007 were included. Migraine cohort members had one or more of: an ICD-9 code for migraine, migraine listed as a significant health problem, or a prescription for a migraine-specific medication. The comparison group was children with no evidence of headache. Main outcome measures Main outcome measures included stroke incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IR). Results Among the 1,566,952 children within KPNC during the study period, 88,164 had migraine, and 1,323,142 had no evidence of headache. Eight migraineurs had a stroke (three (38%) hemorrhagic; five (63%) ischemic). Eighty strokes occurred in children without headache (53 (66%) hemorrhagic; 27 (34%) ischemic). The ischemic stroke incidence rate was 0.9/100,000 person-years in migraineurs vs. 0.4/100,000 person-years in those without headache; IR 2.0 (95% CI 0.8–5.2). A post-hoc analysis of adolescents (12–17 years) showed an increased risk of ischemic stroke among those with migraine; IR 3.4 (95% CI 1.2–9.5). The hemorrhagic stroke incidence rate was 0.5/100,000 person-years in migraineurs and 0.9/100,000 person-years in those without headache; IR 0.6 (95% CI 0.2–2.0). Conclusions There was no statistically significant increase in hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke risk in pediatric migraineurs in this cohort study. A post-hoc analysis found that ischemic stroke risk was significantly elevated in adolescents with migraine. Future studies should focus on identifying risk factors for ischemic stroke among adolescent migraineurs. Based on adult data, we recommend that migraine aura status should be studied as a possible risk factor for ischemic stroke among adolescent migraineurs.

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Electrocardiographic ST-T Abnormities Are Associated With Stroke Risk in the REGARDS Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/strokeaha.119.028069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 51 (4) ◽

pp. 1100-1106

Author(s):

Mitsuaki Sawano ◽

Ya Yuan ◽

Shun Kohsaka ◽

Taku Inohara ◽

Takeki Suzuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

The United States ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Common Finding ◽

Increased Risk

Background and Purpose— In previous studies, isolated nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities (NSSTTAs), a common finding on ECGs, were associated with greater risk for incident coronary artery disease. Their association with incident stroke remains unclear. Methods— The REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study is a population-based, longitudinal study of 30 239 white and black adults enrolled from 2003 to 2007 in the United States. NSSTTAs were defined from baseline ECG using the standards of Minnesota ECG Classification (Minnesota codes 4-3, 4-4, 5-3, or 5-4). Participants with prior stroke, coronary heart disease, and major and minor ECG abnormalities other than NSSTTAs were excluded from analysis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine calculate hazard ratios of incident ischemic stroke by presence of baseline NSSTTAs. Results— Among 14 077 participants, 3111 (22.1%) had NSSTTAs at baseline. With a median of 9.6 years follow-up, 106 (3.4%) with NSSTTAs had ischemic stroke compared with 258 (2.4%) without NSSTTAs. The age-adjusted incidence rates (per 1000 person-years) of stroke were 2.93 in those with NSSTTAs and 2.19 in those without them. Adjusting for baseline age, sex, race, geographic location, and education level, isolated NSSTTAs were associated with a 32% higher risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.05–1.67]). With additional adjustment for stroke risk factors, the risk of stroke was increased 27% (hazard ratio, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.00–1.62]) and did not differ by age, race, or sex. Conclusions— Presence of NSSTTAs in persons with an otherwise normal ECG was associated with a 27% increased risk of future ischemic stroke.

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Abstract 140: Association Between Epilepsy and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke or Myocardial Infarction

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.140 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew A Mercuri ◽

Alexander E Merkler ◽

Neal S Parikh ◽

Michael E Reznik ◽

Hooman Kamel

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Myocardial Infarction ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Predictor Variable ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Vascular Events ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Acute Mi

Background: Vascular brain injury can result in epilepsy. It is posited that seizures in elderly patients might reflect subclinical vascular disease and thus herald future clinical vascular events. Hypothesis: Seizures in elderly patients are associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke or myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: We obtained inpatient and outpatient claims data from 2008-2014 on a 5% sample of Medicare beneficiaries ≥66 years of age. The predictor variable was epilepsy, defined as two or more inpatient or outpatient claims with a diagnosis of seizure. The primary outcome was a composite of ischemic stroke or acute MI. The predictors and outcomes were all ascertained with previously validated ICD-9-CM code algorithms. Survival statistics and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the relationship between epilepsy and incident ischemic stroke or MI while adjusting for demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors. Patients were censored at the first occurrence of a stroke or MI, at the time of death, or on December 31, 2014. Results: Among 1,548,556 beneficiaries with a mean follow-up of 4.4 (±1.8) years, 15,055 (1.0%) developed epilepsy and 121,866 (7.9%) experienced an ischemic stroke or acute MI. Patients with seizures were older (76.1 versus 73.7 years) and had a significantly higher burden of vascular comorbidities than the remainder of the cohort. The annual incidence of stroke or acute MI was 3.28% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.10-3.47%) in those with seizures versus 1.79% (95% CI, 1.78-1.80%) in those without (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.89; 95% CI, 1.78-2.00). After adjustment for demographics and risk factors, epilepsy had a weak association with the composite outcome (adjusted HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.29-1.44), a stronger association with ischemic stroke (adjusted HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.65-1.90), and no association with acute MI (adjusted HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86-1.04). Conclusions: We found an association between epilepsy in elderly patients and future ischemic stroke but not acute MI. Therefore, seizures might signify occult cerebrovascular disease but not necessarily occult disease in other vascular beds.

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