Trends in mortality from different subtypes of stroke in the population of Belgrade (Serbia)

The Factors Associated with the Fatal Outcome of Stroke

The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors associated with the fatal outcome of stroke. The research was designed as observational, non-interventional study, conducted by the type of case series, and it included 290 patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of stroke at Neurology Clinic of the Clinical Center Kragujevac during the observed period from 01/02/2013 to 31/01/2014. The data used for the research were: documentation of Neurology Clinic of the Clinical Center Kragujevac, documentation of the Institute of Public Health Kragujevac and patients’ questionnaires. The results of univariate binary logistic regression pointed out a relevant connection between the fatal outcome of stroke and age (p˂ 0.0001), gender (p˂ 0.0001), the severity of the disease (p = 0.002), smoking (p = 0.021), care for the parents’ health (p = 0.018), the concern about business problems (p = 0.018), while the influence of antidepressants was indicative (p = 0.066), whereas using the multivariate binary logistic regression, it was concluded that age (OR=1.096; 95% CI=1.059-1.134; p<0.001), the severity of the disease (OR=4.324; 95% CI=1.256-14.885; p=0.020) and the use of antidepressants (OR=5.578; 95% CI=1.178-26.423; p=0.030) were factors independently associated with the mortality rate. These findings suggest that it would be useful to carry out additional comprehensive research about all potential risk factors for the occurrence of stroke, and also to establish all the steps that can be taken in order to identify and detect risk factors, their elimination or reduction, and, accordingly, to take aggressive measures of primary and secondary prevention.

Sudden unexpected death caused by stroke: A nationwide study among children and young adults in Denmark

Background

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in young individuals globally. Data on the burden of sudden death by stroke are sparse in the young.

Aims

The aim of this study was to report mortality rates, cause of death, stroke subtype, and symptoms in children and young adults who suffered sudden death by stroke.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, nationwide study including all deaths within Danish borders between 2000–2009 and 2007–2009 in persons aged 1–35 years and 36–49 years, respectively. Two physicians identified all sudden death cases through review of all death certificates. All available autopsy reports and records from hospitals and general practitioners were retrieved and a neurologist identified all sudden death by stroke cases.

Results

Of the 14,567 deaths in the 10-year period, there were 1,698 sudden death cases, of which 52 (3%) were sudden death by stroke. There was a male predominance (56%) and the median age was 33 years. The incidence of sudden death by stroke in individuals aged 1–49 years was 0.19 deaths per 100,000 person-years. Stroke was hemorrhagic in 94% of cases, whereof subarachnoid hemorrhage was the cause of death in 63% of cases. Seventeen (33%) cases contacted the healthcare system because of neurological symptoms, whereof one was suspected of having a stroke (6%).

Conclusions

Sudden death by stroke in children and young adults occurs primarily due to hemorrhagic stroke. We report a high frequency of neurological symptoms prior to sudden death by stroke. Increased awareness among healthcare professionals towards stroke symptoms in children and young adults may lead to earlier detection of stroke, and thereby potentially lowering the incidence of sudden death by stroke.

Sex differences in aneurysm morphologies and clinical outcomes in ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

Ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysms occur more frequently in men. The purpose of the study was to investigate sex difference in aneurysm morphologies and clinical outcomes in patients with ruptured ACoA aneurysms.

SETTING

A tertiary referral hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 574 consecutive patients with ACoA aneurysms were admitted to our hospital from December 2007 to February 2015. In all, 474 patients (257 men and 217 women) with ruptured ACoA aneurysms were included in the study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Aneurysm morphologies were measured using computed tomographic angiography and clinical outcomes were measured with Glasgow coma score at discharge.

RESULTS

The aneurysm sizes (p=0.001), aneurysm heights (p=0.011), size ratios (p<0.001), flow angles (p=0.047) and vessel angles (p=0.046) were larger in the male patients than in the females. The female patients more often had larger vessel sizes (p=0.002). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that significant differences in aneurysm morphologies between men and women were aneurysm size (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.3; p=0.036), aneurysm height (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0. to 0.9; p=0.006) and size ratio (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.7; p=0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in the outcomes between men and women (OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.7, p=0.857).

CONCLUSIONS

The men were independently associated with larger aneurysm sizes, greater aneurysm heights and larger size ratios. Sex was not a risk factor for poor outcome in patients with ruptured ACoA aneurysms.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage and the female sex: analysis of risk factors, aneurysm characteristics, and outcomes

OBJECT

The pathophysiology of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is unclear. Sex may play a role in the outcome of patients with aSAH.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively identified 617 patients with aSAH (April 2005 to February 2010) and analyzed sex differences in risk factors (age, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, and family history), admission-related factors (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade and admission delay), aneurysm characteristics (site, side, location, and multiplicity), and outcomes (treatment modalities [coiling/clipping/both/conservative], complications [vasospasm and hydrocephalus], length of stay, and modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months).

RESULTS

The female patients with aSAH were older than the male patients (mean age 56.6 vs 51.9 years, respectively, p < 0.001), and more women than men were ≥ 55 years old (56.2% vs 40.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). Women exhibited higher rates of bilateral (6.8% vs 2.6%, respectively, p < 0.05), multiple (11.5% vs 5.2%, respectively, p < 0.05), and internal carotid artery (ICA) (36.9% vs 17.5%, respectively, p < 0.001) aneurysms and a lower rate of anterior cerebral artery aneurysms (26.3% vs 44.8%, respectively, p < 0.001) than the men, but no side differences were noted. There were no sex differences in risk factors, admission-related factors, or outcome measures. For both sexes, outcomes varied according to aneurysm location, with odds ratios for a poor outcome of 1.62 (95% CI 0.91-2.86, p = 0.1) for middle cerebral artery, 2.41 (95% CI 1.29-4.51, p = 0.01) for ICA, and 2.41 (95% CI 1.29-4.51, p = 0.006) for posterior circulation aneurysms compared with those for anterior cerebral artery aneurysms. The odds ratio for poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6) in women compared with men after adjusting for significant prognostic factors was 0.71 (95% CI 0.45-1.11, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall outcomes after aSAH between women and men are similar.

Short-term and long-term stroke survival: the belgrade prognostic study

Background and Purpose

The aims of this study were to determine the 28-day and 1-year survival rates after first-ever ischemic stroke and to identify their baseline predictors.

Methods

We prospectively and consecutively collected data on 300 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke admitted to 2 major neurological institutions for cerebrovascular diseases in Belgrade during March 2008. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative 28-day and 1-year survival rates, and the predictive values of different variables were assessed by Cox proportional-hazards regression model.

Results

The cumulative 28-day and 1-year survival rates of ischemic stroke patients in the cohort were 81.0% and 78.3%, respectively. The multivariate predictive model revealed that hypertension (p=0.017), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (p=0.001), and in-hospital medical complications (p=0.029) were significant unfavorable independent outcome predictors, while early physical therapy (p=0.001) was a significant favorable prognostic factor for the 28-day mortality in our patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age (p=0.001), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (p=0.001), and in-hospital complications (p=0.008) remained significant predictors of 1-year mortality.

Conclusions

The findings support the need for optimal control of vascular risk factors and treatment of atherosclerotic disease as well as appropriate prevention and management of in-hospital complications of stroke.

Gender differences in emergency stroke care and hospital outcome in acute ischemic stroke: a multicenter observational study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effect of gender difference on the accessibility to emergency care, hospital mortality and disability in acute stroke care.

METHODS

This study was performed on a single-tiered basic emergency medical service with a comprehensive national health insurance. Demographic variables, risk factors, elapsed time intervals, performing diagnosis and treatment options, hospital mortality, and modified Rankin Scale of acute ischemic stroke during 2008 were collected. We modeled the multivariate regression analysis for gender differences on the accessibility, hospital mortality, and disability. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated adjusting for potential risk factors.

RESULTS

The total number of patients was 6635. The time from symptom onset to emergency department (ED) arrival and to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan and from ED arrival to computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan was significantly longer in women. No significant difference was found in either the time to intravenous thrombolysis or in the number of patients who received intravenous thrombolysis, anti-platelet therapy, anti-coagulation, or operation. The hospital mortality rate was higher in women (3.9%) than in men (2.9%) (P = .03). The increased disability was significantly higher in women (67.8%) than in men (65.1%) (P = .02). The hospital mortality and increased disability showed a non-significant difference between the 2 genders in the adjusted model (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.74-1.64) and (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.96-1.28), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The adjusted model for risk factors showed no significant difference on hospital mortality and disability between the 2 genders for stroke patients.

Three-year survival after first-ever ischemic stroke is predicted by initial stroke severity: A hospital-based study

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to report 3-year survival and causes of death of first-ever ischemic stroke stratified by initial stroke severity.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

From September 1998 to October 1999, 360 acute first-ever ischemic stroke patients consecutively admitted were followed up prospectively. Patients' vital status and causes of death were identified from the National Death Registry, till December 31, 2002. Potential prognostic factors available at admission were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with bootstrap validation.

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty patients, 58% males with age 64.9 years on average, were followed up for 43.4 months with no lost follow-up. Ninety-two (25.6%) patients died, 25 in the first month. The cumulative case-fatality rates were 12.2%, 15.8%, 20.5% and 25.6% for years 1-4. The proportion of vascular deaths was 84% during the first 30 days and 71% for the subsequent 5 months. The hazard ratio (95% CI) was 1.08 (1.05-1.11) for age (1-year increment), 335.90 (20.72-5446.23) for NIHSS 16-38, 2.48 (1.39-4.42) for NIHSS 7-15, and 0.95 (0.91-0.99) for an interaction term of age and NIHSS 16-38.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that the initial stroke severity and age were early prognostic factors for 3-year survival after first-ever ischemic stroke, and further demonstrated that the influence of age on survival time was slightly lower in patients with severe stroke.

LDL and HDL subclasses in acute ischemic stroke: prediction of risk and short-term mortality

OBJECTIVE

Small, dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) and small-sized high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles are established risk factors for ischemic heart disease. However, their clinical significance for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is uncertain. This study evaluates associations of LDL and HDL particle sizes and subclasses with AIS risk and short-term mortality after AIS.

METHODS

Two hundred AIS patients hospitalised for first-in-a-lifetime stroke and 162 apparently healthy controls were included in the study. LDL and HDL particles were separated by gradient gel electrophoresis and serum lipid parameters were measured by standard laboratory methods. Baseline characteristics of LDL and HDL particles were evaluated for the prediction of AIS and short-term mortality after AIS.

RESULTS

AIS patients had significantly more LDL III and IVb, but less LDL I and II particles. They also had significantly smaller HDL size, more HDL 3a, 3b and 3c and less HDL 2b subclasses. The relative content of both sdLDL and small-sized HDL particles was significantly increased in patients (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). In addition, sdLDL was significantly higher in AIS fatalities (n=25) compared with survivors (n=175, P<0.05). Increased sdLDL was a significant predictor of AIS (OR=4.31; P<0.001) and in-hospital mortality after AIS (OR=5.50; P<0.05). The observed relationships persisted after adjustment for conventional risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

AIS is associated with adverse distributions of LDL and HDL subclasses. In addition, short-term mortality after AIS is associated with increased sdLDL particles. Our results indicate that sdLDL is an independent predictor of both AIS onset and consecutive short-term mortality.

Sex differences in stroke

Increasing evidence suggests that sex differences exist in the etiology, presentation, treatment, and outcome from stroke. The reasons for these sex disparities are becoming increasingly explored, but large gaps still exist in our knowledge. Experimental studies over the past several years have demonstrated intrinsic sex differences both in vivo and in animal models which may have relevance to our understanding of stroke in clinical populations. A greater understanding of the differences and similarities between males and females with respect to the risk factors, pathophysiology, and response to stroke will facilitate the design of future clinical trials and enhance the development of treatment strategies to improve stroke care in both sexes. This article reviews the current literature on sex differences in stroke with an emphasis on the clinical data, incorporating an analysis of bench research as it pertains to the bedside.