Recurrent stroke admissions with vs without COVID-19 and associated in-hospital mortality: A United States nationwide analysis, 2020

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has been shown to increase the risk of stroke.However,the prevalence and risk of recurrent stroke in COVID-19 patients with prior stroke/transient ischemic attack(TIA),as well as its impact on mor-tality,are not established.AIM To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on in-hospital mortality,length of stay,and healthcare costs in patients with recurrent strokes.METHODS We identified admissions of recurrent stroke(current acute ischemic stroke admissions with at least one prior TIA or stroke)in patients with and without COVID-19 using ICD-10-CM codes using the National Inpatient Sample(2020).We analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on mortality following recurrent stroke admissions by subgroups.RESULTS Of 97455 admissions with recurrent stroke,2140(2.2%)belonged to the COVID-19-positive group.The COVID-19-positive group had a higher prevalence of diabetes and chronic kidney disease vs the COVID-19 negative group(P<0.001).Among the subgroups,patients aged>65 years,patients aged 45–64 years,Asians,Hispanics,whites,and blacks in the COVID-19 positive group had higher rates of all-cause mortality than the COVID-19 negative group(P<0.01).Higher odds of in-hospital mortality were seen in the group aged 45-64(OR:8.40,95%CI:4.18-16.91)vs the group aged>65(OR:7.04,95%CI:5.24-9.44),males(OR:7.82,95%CI:5.38-11.35)compared to females(OR:6.15,95%CI:4.12-9.18),and in Hispanics(OR:15.47,95%CI:7.61-31.44)and Asians/Pacific Islanders(OR:14.93,95%CI:7.22-30.87)compared to blacks(OR:5.73,95%CI:3.08-10.68),and whites(OR:5.54,95%CI:3.79-8.09).CONCLUSION The study highlights the increased risk of all-cause in-hospital mortality in recurrent stroke patients with COVID-19,with a more pronounced increase in middle-aged patients,males,Hispanics,or Asians.

Efficacy and safety of aspirin antiplatelet therapy within 48 h of symptom onset in patients with acute stroke

BACKGROUND Aspirin is a widely used antiplatelet agent that reduces the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke and other vascular events.However,the optimal timing and dose of aspirin initiation after an acute stroke remain controversial.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin antiplatelet therapy within 48 h of symptom onset in patients with acute stroke.METHODS We conducted a randomized,open-label,controlled trial in 60 patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who were admitted to our hospital within 24 h of symptom onset.Patients were randomly assigned to receive either aspirin 300 mg daily or no aspirin within 48 h of stroke onset.The primary outcome was the occurrence of recurrent stroke,myocardial infarction,or vascular death within 90 d.The secondary outcomes were functional outcomes at 90 d measured using the modified Rankin Scale(mRS),incidence of bleeding complications,and mortality rate.RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 67.8 years and 55%of them were male.The median time from stroke onset to randomization was 12 h.The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups.The primary outcome occurred in 6.7%of patients in the aspirin group and 16.7%of patients in the no aspirin group(relative risk=0.40,95%confidence interval:0.12-1.31,P=0.13).The mRS score at 90 d was significantly lower in the aspirin group than in the no aspirin group(median,2 vs 3,respectively;P=0.04).The incidence of bleeding complications was similar between the groups(6.7%vs 6.7%,P=1.00).The mortality rates were also comparable between the two groups(10%vs 13.3%,P=0.69).CONCLUSION Aspirin use is associated with favorable functional outcomes but does not significantly reduce the risk of recurrent vascular events.Its acceptable safety profile is comparable to that of no aspirin.Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.

Leukoaraiosis is associated with clinical symptom severity,poor neurological function prognosis and stroke recurrence in mild intracerebral hemorrhage:a prospective multi-center cohort study

Leukoaraiosis(LA)results from ischemic injury in small cerebral vessels,which may be attributable to decreased vascular density,reduced cerebrovascular angiogenesis,decreased cerebral blood flow,or microcirculatory dysfunction in the brain.In this study,we enrolled 357 patients with mild intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH)from five hospitals in China and analyzed the relationships between LA and clinical symptom severity at admission,neurological function prognosis at 3 months,and 1-year stroke recurrence.Patients were divided into groups based on Fazekas scale scores:no LA(n=83),mild LA(n=64),moderate LA(n=98)and severe LA(n=112).More severe LA,larger hematoma volume,and higher blood glucose level at admission were associated with more severe neurological deficit.More severe LA,older age and larger hematoma volume were associated with worse neurological function prognosis at 3 months.In addition,moderate-to-severe LA,admission glucose and symptom-free cerebral infarction were associated with 1-year stroke recurrence.These findings suggest that LA severity may be a potential marker of individual ICH vulnerability,which can be characterized by poor tolerance to intracerebral attack or poor recovery ability after ICH.Evaluating LA severity in patients with mild ICH may help neurologists to optimize treatment protocols.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University(approval No.12)on March 10,2011.

Thrombolysis and embolectomy in treatment of acute stroke as a bridge to open-heart resection of giant cardiac myxoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Cardiac embolism is a common cause of ischemic stroke in young adults.Neurological complications associated with atrial myxoma most frequently include cerebral infarct due to embolus.Early complete resection of giant cardiac myxoma is the key to its treatment and prevention of stroke recurrence.CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old,previously healthy woman was admitted to the hospital with sudden-onset inability to speak and right-sided hemiplegia.While sweeping the floor 2 h prior to hospital admission,the patient developed sudden inability to express herself or understand what others were saying,accompanied by dyskinesia of the right limb,inability to walk or hold objects,and involuntary choreiform movements of the left upper limb.The patient was diagnosed with cerebral embolism and cardiac myxoma,complicated by left middle cerebral artery occlusion.The acute stroke was treated with intravenous thrombolytic therapy and arterial embolectomy as a bridging therapy to open resection of left atrial cardiac myxoma.The patient condition improved remarkably following initial thrombolysis and embolectomy and subsequently underwent emergency open resection of the atrial cardiac myxoma.She had no recurrence during 1-year follow-up.CONCLUSION Strong consideration should be given to urgent intravenous thrombolysis(rt-PA,alteplase)in young adult stroke patients at the time of hospital admission.The present case demonstrated a highly successful outcome that combined thrombolysis and arterial embolus retrieval as a bridge to early complete resection of a giant cardiac myxoma for both stroke treatment and recurrence prevention.

Long-term prognosis and prognostic determinants of patients with first attack of mild and moderate ischemia at Beijing community hospitals

A total of 710 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke were consecutively recruited between January 2003 and December 2004 from five community hospitals/stations in five districts of Beijing, China. As of December 31, 2008, a total of 2 477 person-years were followed-up. During the five-year follow-ups, 117 adverse events occurred, including all-cause death and acute cardiovascular events （recurrent stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden death）. The five-year cumulative mortality rate was 2.18/100 person-years （54 cases）, with 3.88/100 person-years （96 cases） of acute cardiovascular events and 3.02/100 person-years （75 cases） of recurrent stroke. Multiple factor analyses using the Cox proportional hazards ratio models showed that age, diabetes, and dependence of activities of daily living were independent predictors for death, acute cardiovascular disease events, or recurrent stroke. The results demonstrated that recurrent stroke was a major vascular disease that affected the prognosis of mild or moderate stroke patients. Secondary prevention of stroke patients should include active management of vascular risk factors and rehabilitation.

Blood Pressure Lowering for the Secondary Prevention of Stroke

Hypertension is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for stroke,and greater than 50%of all stroke events are estimated to be attributable to elevated blood pressure(BP).Randomized trials and meta-analyses have demonstrated that reducing BP is the most effective and generalizable strategy for preventing recurrent stroke.Based on currently available evidence,BP should be reduced to below 140/90 mmHg in all patients during the chronic post-stroke phase and to below 130/80 mmHg when welltolerated.

Mortality and recurrence of vascular disease among stroke patients treated with combined TCM therapy

OBJECTIVE:To confirm the long-term outcomes of stroke patients and determine predicting factors for death,recurrence of vascular events and poor outcome(either recurrence or death) after the use of combined TCM therapy.METHODS:This was a retrospective hospital-based cohort study and was performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Tianjin.All subjects with stroke consecutively admitted to an inpatient ward of the Acupuncture Department from January 1,2008,to December 31,2008 were retrospectively followed through one year.The main outcomes were either a recurrence of vascular events,,mortality or both.Risk factors were recorded from medical records.Multivariate regression models were used to analyze predictors.The following independent variables were used:age,gender,hypertension,ischemic heart disease,atrial fibrillation,diabetes mellitus,carotid arterial lesions and history of stroke.RESULTS:Four-hundred and five patients were included.The 1-year mortality rate was 11.11%.23.70% of the patients had a recurrent vascular event,and 30.86% suffered a poor outcome.Multiple logistic regression analysis found that previous stroke,and advanced age were predictors of death within one year,Recurrence of vascular events was associated with carotid arterial lesions,history of diabetes and previous stroke.Long-term poor outcome was predicted by advanced age,history of diabetes,and previous stroke.CONCLUSION:Age,previous stroke,carotid arterial lesions and diabetes history seem to have different impacts on the three outcomes within one year.Our findings provide important data for planning future hospital register studies of stroke patients in TCM hospitals.