Validation of CSR model to predict stroke risk after transient ischemic attack

It is essential to identify high risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. The previous study reported that the CSR (comprehensive stroke recurrence) model, a neuroimaging model, had a high predictive ability of recurrent stroke. The aims of this study were to validate the predictive value of CSR model in TIA patients and compare the predictive ability with ABCD3-I score. Data were analyzed from the prospective hospital-based database of patients with TIA which defined by the World Health Organization time-based criteria. The predictive outcome was stroke occurrence at 90 days. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and the C statistics were calculated as a measure of predictive ability. Among 1186 eligible patients, the mean age was 57.28 ± 12.17 years, and 474 (40.0%) patients had positive diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). There were 118 (9.9%) patients who had stroke within 90 days. In 1186 TIA patients, The C statistic of CSR model (0.754; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.729–0.778) was similar with that of ABCD3-I score (0.717; 95% CI 0.691–0.743; Z = 1.400; P = 0.1616). In 474 TIA patients with positive DWI, C statistic of CSR model (0.725; 95% CI 0.683–0.765) was statistically higher than that of ABCD3-I score (0.626; 95% CI 0.581–0.670; Z = 2.294; P = 0.0245). The CSR model had good predictive value for assessing stroke risk after TIA, and it had a higher predictive value than ABCD3-I score for assessing stroke risk for TIA patients with positive DWI.

Atrial Fibrillation Detected After Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Novel Clinical Concept Challenging Current Views

Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be newly detected in approximately one-fourth of patients with ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack without previously recognized AF. We present updated evidence supporting that AF detected after stroke or transient ischemic attack (AFDAS) may be a distinct clinical entity from AF known before stroke occurrence (known atrial fibrillation). Data suggest that AFDAS can arise from the interplay of cardiogenic and neurogenic forces. The embolic risk of AFDAS can be understood as a gradient defined by the prevalence of vascular comorbidities, the burden of AF, neurogenic autonomic changes, and the severity of atrial cardiopathy. The balance of existing data indicates that AFDAS has a lower prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, a lower degree of cardiac abnormalities than known atrial fibrillation, a high proportion (52%) of very brief (<30 seconds) AF paroxysms, and is more frequently associated with insular brain infarction. These distinctive features of AFDAS may explain its recently observed lower associated risk of stroke than known atrial fibrillation. We present an updated ad-hoc meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials in which the association between prolonged cardiac monitoring and reduced risk of ischemic stroke was nonsignificant (incidence rate ratio, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.71–1.15]). These findings highlight that larger and sufficiently powered randomized controlled trials of prolonged cardiac monitoring assessing the risk of stroke recurrence are needed. Meanwhile, we call for further research on AFDAS and stroke recurrence, and a tailored approach when using prolonged cardiac monitoring after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, focusing on patients at higher risk of AFDAS and, more importantly, at higher risk of cardiac embolism.

Short-term results of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale guided by transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with cryptogenic stroke: A retrospective study

Background: This study aimed to assess the short-term (12 months) results of PFO occlusion guided by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and the results of regular transthoracic ultrasound foaming test (UFT). Methods: Data of 75 patients who underwent interventional therapy for PFO and CS were retrospectively analysed. The patients were grouped according to their preoperative UFT results: group A, small volume of right-to-left shunts; group B, moderate volume of right-to-left shunts; and group C, large volume of right-to-left shunts. All patients were treated with an Amplatzer occluder under TEE guidance. UFT follow-up was conducted regularly until 12 months after surgery. Results: No remarkable differences in preoperative data, length of hospital stay, or operative time were noted between the groups. Length of the PFO and diameter of the occluder differed between the groups: group A=group Bp<0.001). One patient in group C developed recurrent stroke 11 months postoperatively. Two patients in group C developed atrial arrhythmia, which improved after 3 months of antiarrhythmic treatment. However, 19 patients still had positive UFT results 12 months postoperatively. Furthermore, the positive UFT rate 12 months postoperatively differed between the groups: group A=group Bp<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with PFO and CS, interventional therapy guided by TEE could lead to satisfactory short-term (12 months) outcomes. A longer PFO and preoperative large-volume shunt were negatively associated with a negative UFT rate 12 months postoperatively. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between positive UFT results postoperatively and stroke recurrence.

Stroke Literacy Video for Patients and Families: Symptoms, Risk Factors, and Prevention (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Most vascular events after stroke may be prevented by modifying vascular risk factors through medical and behavioral interventions. Stroke literacy, an understanding of stroke symptoms, risk factors, and treatment, likely contributes to vascular risk factor control and in turn stroke recurrence risk. Video-based interventions targeting stroke literacy may help acute stroke survivors understand stroke and subsequently reduce stroke recurrence. However, failure of prior stroke literacy interventions may be due in part to the fact that the interventions were not theory-driven. OBJECTIVE To develop a video-based educational intervention to improve stroke literacy in hospitalized acute stroke patients. METHODS The 6-step iterative process of Intervention Mapping (IM) was used to develop a video-based educational intervention and related implementation and evaluation plans. RESULTS A 5-minute video-based educational intervention was developed. The IM approach led to successful intervention development by emphasizing stakeholder involvement, generation and adoption, and information retainment in the planning phase of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS An IM approach guided the development of a video-based educational intervention to promote stroke literacy among acute stroke survivors. Future studies are needed to assess the use of technology and digital media to support wide-spread access and participation in video-based health literacy interventions for the stroke population. Studies are needed to assess the impact of video-based educational interventions paired with stroke systems of care optimization to promote stroke recurrence risk reduction. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171952

One-Year Risk of Stroke After Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke in Hunter New England, Australia (INSIST Study)

Background: One-year risk of stroke in transient ischemic attack and minor stroke (TIAMS) managed in secondary care settings has been reported as 5–8%. However, evidence for the outcomes of TIAMS in community care settings is limited.Methods: The INternational comparison of Systems of care and patient outcomes In minor Stroke and TIA (INSIST) study was a prospective inception cohort community-based study of patients of 16 general practices in the Hunter–Manning region (New South Wales, Australia). Possible-TIAMS patients were recruited from 2012 to 2016 and followed-up for 12 months post-index event. Adjudication as TIAMS or TIAMS-mimics was by an expert panel. We established 7-days, 90-days, and 1-year risk of stroke, TIA, myocardial infarction (MI), coronary or carotid revascularization procedure and death; and medications use at 24 h post-index event.Results: Of 613 participants (mean age; 70 ± 12 years), 298 (49%) were adjudicated as TIAMS. TIAMS-group participants had ischemic strokes at 7-days, 90-days, and 1-year, at Kaplan-Meier (KM) rates of 1% (95% confidence interval; 0.3, 3.1), 2.1% (0.9, 4.6), and 3.2% (1.7, 6.1), respectively, compared to 0.3, 0.3, and 0.6% of TIAMS-mimic-group participants. At one year, TIAMS-group-participants had twenty-five TIA events (KM rate: 8.8%), two MI events (0.6%), four coronary revascularizations (1.5%), eleven carotid revascularizations (3.9%), and three deaths (1.1%), compared to 1.6, 0.6, 1.0, 0.3, and 0.6% of TIAMS-mimic-group participants. Of 167 TIAMS-group participants who commenced or received enhanced therapies, 95 (57%) were treated within 24 h post-index event. For TIAMS-group participants who commenced or received enhanced therapies, time from symptom onset to treatment was median 9.5 h [IQR 1.8–89.9].Conclusion: One-year risk of stroke in TIAMS participants was lower than reported in previous studies. Early implementation of antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapies may have contributed to the low stroke recurrence.

Low Toe–Brachial Index Is Associated With Stroke Outcome Despite Normal Ankle–Brachial Index

Introduction: We investigated whether the toe–brachial index (TBI) is associated with stroke prognosis and evaluated this association in patients with normal ankle–brachial index (ABI).Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent TBI measurements were enrolled. Poor functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score ≥3. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) was defined as stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, or death. Normal ABI was defined as 0.9 ≤ ABI ≤ 1.4.Results: A total of 1,697 patients were enrolled and followed up for a median 39.7 (interquartile range, 25.7–54.6) months. During the period, 305 patients suffered MACE (18.0%), including 171 (10.1%) stroke recurrences. TBI was associated with hypertension, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, aortic plaque score, ABI, and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (all p &lt; 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression, TBI was inversely associated with poor functional outcome in all patients [odds ratio (OR) 0.294, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.114–0.759], even in patients with normal ABI (OR 0.293, 95% CI 0.095–0.906). In multivariable Cox regression, TBI &lt; 0.6 was associated with stroke recurrence [hazard ratio (HR) 1.651, 95% CI 1.135–2.400], all-cause mortality (HR 2.105, 95% CI 1.343–3.298), and MACE (HR 1.838, 95% CI 1.396–2.419) in all patients. TBI &lt; 0.6 was also associated with stroke recurrence (HR 1.681, 95% CI 1.080–2.618), all-cause mortality (HR 2.075, 95% CI 1.180–3.651), and MACE (HR 1.619, 95% CI 1.149–2.281) in patients with normal ABI.Conclusions: Low TBI is independently associated with poor short- and long-term outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients despite normal ABI.

Preventing Ischemic Cerebrovascular Events in High-Risk Patients With Non-disabling Ischemic Cerebrovascular Events Using Remote Ischemic Conditioning: A Single-Arm Study

Background: Secondary stroke prevention after a high-risk, non-disabling ischemic cerebrovascular event needs to be enhanced. The study was conducted to investigate whether remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) is effective in preventing recurrent ischemic events within 3 months.Methods: This was a four-center, single-arm, open-label Phase IIa futility trial (PICNIC-One Study). Adult patients (≥18 years of age) who had an acute minor ischemic stroke (AMIS) with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≤ 3 or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) with moderate-to-high risk of stroke recurrence (ABCD score ≥ 4) within 14 days of symptom onset were recruited. Patients received RIC as adjunctive therapy to routine secondary stroke prevention regimen. RIC consisted of five cycles of 5-min inflation (200 mmHg) and 5-min deflation of cuffs (45 min) on bilateral upper limbs twice a day for 90 days.Results: A total of 285 patients met the study criteria, of which 167 provided signed informed consent and were enrolled. Data from 162 were analyzed with five subjects excluded. Recurrent AIS/TIA occurred in 6/162 (3.7%) patients within 3 months, with no occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke. The top three adverse events were upper limb pain (44/162, 27.2%), petechia (26/162, 16.0%), and heart palpitation (5/162, 3.1%). About 68 (42.0%) subjects completed ≥ 50% of 45-min RIC sessions.Conclusions: RIC is a safe add-on procedure and it has a potential benefit in reducing recurrent cerebrovascular events in patients with high-risk, non-disabling ischemic cerebrovascular events as the risk of stroke/TIA events is lower than expected; however, its compliance needs to be improved. Our study provides critical preliminary data to plan a large sample size, randomized controlled clinical study to systematically investigate the safety and efficacy of RIC in this population.