Diverging Trends in Survival and Functional Outcome between Males and Females after Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Compared to ischemic stroke, sex differences in patient outcomes following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are underreported. We aimed to determine sex differences in mortality and functional outcomes in a large, unselected Swedish cohort. METHODS: In this observational study, data on 22,789 patients with spontaneous ICH registered in the Swedish Stroke Register between 2012 and 2019 were used to compare sex differences in 90-day mortality and functional outcome using multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for relevant confounders. Multiple imputation was used to impute missing data. RESULTS: The crude 90-day mortality rate was 36.7% in females (3,820/10,405) and 31.7% in males (3,929/12,384) (female hazard ratio [HR] 1.20 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.25). In multivariable analysis, the HR for 90-day mortality following ICH in females was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.85-0.94). Age was an important driving factor for the effect of sex on mortality. After adjustment for age, vascular risk factors, and stroke severity, the 90-day functional outcome in pre-stroke independent patients was worse in females compared to males (odds ratio: 1.27 95% CI: 1.16-1.40). CONCLUSION: In this large observational study, despite lower 90-day mortality, the female sex was independently associated with a worse functional outcome compared to males after ICH, even after adjusting for significant covariates. These diverging trends have not been previously reported for ICH. Given the observational design, our findings should be interpreted with caution, thus further external validation is warranted.

Diverging Trends in the Incidence of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Sweden 2010-2019: An Observational Study from the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke).

INTRODUCTION: Although ischemic stroke incidence has decreased in Sweden over the past decade, trends in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) incidence are less well delineated. In this time period, there has been a dramatic increase in use of oral anticoagulants (OAC). The aim of our study was to investigate incidence trends in spontaneous first-ever ICH in Sweden between 2010 and 2019, with a focus on non-OAC-associated and OAC-associated ICH. METHODS: We included patients (≥18 years) with first-ever ICH registered in the hospital-based Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) 2010-2019. Data were stratified by non-OAC and OAC ICH and analyzed for 2010-2012, 2013-2016, and 2017-2019. Incidence rates are shown as crude and age-specific per 100,000 person-years. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2019, 22,289 patients with first-ever ICH were registered; 18,325 (82.2%) patients with non-OAC ICH and 3,964 (17.8%) patients with OAC ICH. Annual crude incidence (per 100,000) of all first-ever ICH decreased by 10% from 29.5 (95% CI 28.8-30.3) to 26.7 (95% CI 26.0-27.3) between 2010-2012 and 2017-2019. The crude incidence rate of non-OAC ICH decreased by 20% from 25.7 (95% CI 25.0-26.3) to 20.7 (95% CI 20.1-21.2), whereas OAC ICH increased by 56% from 3.86 (95% CI 3.61-4.12) to 6.01 (95% CI 5.70-6.32). The proportion of OAC ICH of all first-ever ICH increased between 2010-2012 and 2017-2019 from 13.1% to 22.5% (p < 0.001). Proportional changes were largest in the age group ≥85 years with a decrease in non-OAC ICH by 32% from 155 (95% CI 146-164) to 106 (95% CI 98.6-113) and an increase in OAC ICH by 155% from 25.7 (95% CI 22.1-29.4) to 65.5 (95% CI 59.9-71.2). CONCLUSION: Incidence of first-ever ICH in Sweden decreased by 10% between 2010 and 2019. We found diverging trends with a 20% decrease in non-OAC-associated ICH and a 56% increase in OAC-associated ICH. Further research on ICH epidemiology, analyzing non-OAC and OAC-associated ICH separately, is needed to follow up these diverging trends including underlying risk factors.

Remote Ischemic Conditioning for Acute Stroke: The RESIST Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Despite some promising preclinical and clinical data, it remains uncertain whether remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) with transient cycles of limb ischemia and reperfusion is an effective treatment for acute stroke. Objective: To evaluate the effect of RIC when initiated in the prehospital setting and continued in the hospital on functional outcome in patients with acute stroke. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a randomized clinical trial conducted at 4 stroke centers in Denmark that included 1500 patients with prehospital stroke symptoms for less than 4 hours (enrolled March 16, 2018, to November 11, 2022; final follow-up, February 3, 2023). Intervention: The intervention was delivered using an inflatable cuff on 1 upper extremity (RIC cuff pressure, ≤200 mm Hg [n = 749] and sham cuff pressure, 20 mm Hg [n = 751]). Each treatment application consisted of 5 cycles of 5 minutes of cuff inflation followed by 5 minutes of cuff deflation. Treatment was started in the ambulance and repeated at least once in the hospital and then twice daily for 7 days among a subset of participants. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was improvement in functional outcome measured as a shift across the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days in the target population with a final diagnosis of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. Results: Among 1500 patients who were randomized (median age, 71 years; 591 women [41%]), 1433 (96%) completed the trial. Of these, 149 patients (10%) were diagnosed with transient ischemic attack and 382 (27%) with a stroke mimic. In the remaining 902 patients with a target diagnosis of stroke (737 [82%] with ischemic stroke and 165 [18%] with intracerebral hemorrhage), 436 underwent RIC and 466 sham treatment. The median mRS score at 90 days was 2 (IQR, 1-3) in the RIC group and 1 (IQR, 1-3) in the sham group. RIC treatment was not significantly associated with improved functional outcome at 90 days (odds ratio [OR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.20, P = .67; absolute difference in median mRS score, -1; -1.7 to -0.25). In all randomized patients, there were no significant differences in the number of serious adverse events: 169 patients (23.7%) in the RIC group with 1 or more serious adverse events vs 175 patients (24.3%) in the sham group (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.11; P = .68). Upper extremity pain during treatment and/or skin petechia occurred in 54 (7.2%) in the RIC group and 11 (1.5%) in the sham group. Conclusions and Relevance: RIC initiated in the prehospital setting and continued in the hospital did not significantly improve functional outcome at 90 days in patients with acute stroke. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03481777.

Epidemiology of First and Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in Sweden 2010-2019: A Riksstroke Study.

INTRODUCTION: Ischemic stroke incidence appears to have decreased during the last decades, but most studies focus on the first-ever events and epidemiological data on recurrent stroke are scarce. The aim of our study was to investigate trends in incidence, risk factors, and medication in patients with first-ever and recurrent ischemic stroke between 2010 and 2019 in Sweden. METHODS: We included patients (≥18 years old) with ischemic stroke registered in the hospital-based Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) 2010-2019. The coverage of Riksstroke was consistently high (about 90%) during this period. Data were stratified by first-ever and recurrent ischemic stroke in three different time periods (2010-2012, 2013-2016, and 2017-2019) and shown as crude and age-specific incidence rates per 100,000 person-years. Statistics Sweden provided census data on the Swedish population in different age groups. RESULTS: During the study period, 201,316 cases of ischemic stroke were registered in Riksstroke, including 153,865 (76.4%) cases of first-ever ischemic stroke and 46,248 (23.0%) cases of recurrent ischemic stroke (0.6% of cases unclassified). The crude incidence of first-ever ischemic stroke decreased by 17% from 216 (95% CI 214-218) to 179 (95% CI 177-181) between 2010-2012 and 2017-2019, whereas recurrent ischemic stroke decreased by 33% from 72 (95% CI 71-73) to 48 (95% CI 47-49). Between these time periods, diminishing ischemic stroke incidence was seen in all age groups with highest decline noted in those aged 75-84 years (928 [95% CI 914-943] to 698 [95% CI 686-709]; -25% in first-ever ischemic stroke and 361 [95% CI 351-370] to 219 [95% CI 213-226]; -39% in recurrent ischemic stroke) and ≥85 years (1,674 [95% CI 1,645-1,703] to 1,295 [95% CI 1,270-1,320]; -23% in first-ever ischemic stroke and 683 [95% CI 664-702] to 423 [95% CI 409-437]; -38% in recurrent ischemic stroke). Treatment with anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and lipid-lowering drugs increased considerably in patients with first-ever and recurrent ischemic stroke both at admission and discharge during the study period. CONCLUSION: Whereas both first-ever and recurrent ischemic stroke rates declined in Sweden between 2010 and 2019, the proportional decline was almost double for recurrent ischemic stroke than for first-ever ischemic stroke and most pronounced in the elderly. Increased use of secondary preventive drugs, in particular anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation, appears to have contributed, but further studies on precise causes for the decline in recurrent ischemic stroke are needed.

Patient factors associated with receiving reversal therapy in oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe baseline characteristics of patients with oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage (OAC-ICH) in Sweden and to identify predictive variables associated with receiving hemostatic treatment in the event of OAC-ICH. METHODS: We performed an observational study based on data from Riksstroke and the Swedish Causes of Death Register to define baseline characteristics of patients with OAC-ICH who received reversal treatment compared with patients who did not receive reversal treatment during 2017-2019. Predictive analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression to identify odds ratios for factors associated with receiving OAC reversal treatment. RESULTS: We included 1902 patients ((n = 1146; OAC reversal treatment) (n = 756; no OAC reversal treatment)). The proportion of non-Vitamin K oral anticoagulant associated ICH (NOAC-ICH) patients who received reversal treatment was 48.4% and the proportion of Vitamin K antagonist-associated ICH (VKA-ICH) patients was 72.9%. Factors associated with a lower odds of receiving reversal treatment were increased age (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99), previous stroke (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62-0.98), comatose LOC (OR = 0.36;95%CI: 0.27-0.48; ref. = alert), pre-stroke dependency (OR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.58-0.91), and NOAC treatment (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.28-0.42). Care at a university hospital was not associated with higher odds of receiving reversal treatment compared to treatment at a county hospital. CONCLUSION: Treatment with a reversal agent following OAC-ICH was related to several patient factors including type of OAC drug. We identified that only 48% of patients with NOAC-ICH received hemostatic treatment despite an increase in these cases. Further studies are required to guide the use of reversal therapies more precisely, particularly in NOAC-ICH.

Fetal posterior cerebral artery configurations in an ischemic stroke versus an unselected hospital population.

BACKGROUND: Few MRA-based studies have systematically evaluated the prevalence and laterality of a fetal configuration of the posterior cerebral artery (FTP) in ischemic stroke populations versus other populations. This common variant is important in the setting of acute stroke and secondary prevention decisions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and laterality of FTP configurations in MRI-DWI verified acute ischemic stroke patients investigated with MRA, and compare the findings with an unselected hospital population investigated with computed tomography angiography (CTA). We also evaluated the association of FTP with posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory infarctions. METHODS: We reviewed the MRAs of 1407 ischemic stroke patients with acute lesions on MRI-DWI sequences and 546 consecutive CTAs of patients investigated on any indication in a tertiary hospital. The MRA and CTA assessments were made by neuroradiologists blinded to original reports on stroke location and vessel anatomy. RESULTS: The prevalence of any FTP was similar in ischemic stroke patients (31%) and unselected patients (32%). Unilateral FTP was significantly more frequent on the right than on the left side in both groups (15% right vs. 8% left). The presence of FTP ipsilateral to stroke side was not associated with involvement of the PCA territory versus no FTP on the stroke side. CONCLUSIONS: FTP is present in approximately 30% of ischemic stroke patients and unselected hospital populations and was detected significantly more frequently on the right versus left side in both groups. PCA territory infarction was not associated with the presence of ipsilateral FTP.

Prognosis of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Related to Antithrombotic Use: An Observational Study From the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To date, large studies comparing mortality and functional outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during oral anticoagulant (OAC), antiplatelet, and nonantithrombotic use are few and show discrepant results. METHODS: We used data on 13 291 patients with ICH registered in Riksstroke between 2012 and 2016 to compare 90-day mortality and functional outcome following OAC-related ICH (n=2300), antiplatelet-related ICH (n=3637), and nonantithrombotic ICH (n=7354). Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses, with adjustment for relevant confounders, were used to compare 90-day mortality. Early (≤24 hours and 1-7 days) and late (8-90 days) mortality was also studied in subgroup analyses. Univariable and multivariable 90-day functional outcome, based on self-reported modified Rankin Scale, was determined using logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients with antithrombotic treatment were more often prestroke dependent, older, and had a larger comorbidity burden compared with patients without antithrombotic treatment. At 90 days, antiplatelet and OAC were associated with an increased death rate in multivariable analysis (antiplatelet ICH: hazard ratio, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.14-1.33]; OAC ICH: hazard ratio, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.26-1.57]) compared with nonantithrombotic ICH (reference). OAC ICH and antiplatelet ICH were associated with higher risk of early mortality (≤24 hours: OAC ICH: hazard ratio, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.57-2.38]; antiplatelet ICH: hazard ratio, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.13-1.54]). In multivariable analysis, the odds ratios for the association of antiplatelet and OAC treatment on functional dependency (modified Rankin Scale score, 3-5) at 90 days were nonsignificant (antiplatelet: odds ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.92-1.24]; OAC: odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.76-1.22]). CONCLUSIONS: In this large observational study, we found that 90-day mortality outcome was worse not only in OAC ICH but also in antiplatelet ICH, compared with patients with nonantithrombotic ICH. Antiplatelet ICH is common and is a serious condition with poor clinical outcome. Further studies are, therefore, warranted in determining the appropriate clinical management of these patients.

Ischemic stroke patients with prestroke dependency: Characteristics and long-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: This paper aims at examining the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke patients with different levels of prestroke functional dependency, their long-term outcome, and determinants of five-year mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We describe demographics, comorbidity, treatment, as well as long-term mortality, and functional status of 5899 prestroke-dependent ischemic stroke patients stratified by dependency level and compared to a concurrent cohort of 14 148 prestroke-independent patients. The study was based on 2016 survey data from Riksstroke, the Swedish national stroke register, and patients were followed up at three months, 12 months, and either at three or five years. We used Cox regression for mortality predictor analysis and multiple imputation was performed to minimize bias from loss to follow-up. RESULTS: With increasing level of prestroke dependency, comorbidity burden was higher, drug prescription lower, and prognosis less favorable. At three years, the proportion that had died or deteriorated were 82.6%, 87.5%, and 86.3% in moderate, moderately severe, and severe dependency, respectively. In moderate dependency, prognosis was relatively favorable: Three-month mortality was half of that seen in severe dependency (25.3% versus 49.6%). Differences in overall outcome between groups of varying prestroke functional dependency level were statistically significant (P < .05) at all follow-up time points. CONCLUSIONS: There was great heterogeneity between groups of different level of prestroke dependency; those of moderate dependency had a relatively favorable prognosis. Patients of different prestroke level of dependency need to be addressed separately, and further research is needed characterizing this group and exploring management strategies.

Off the record: The invisibility work of doctors in a patient-accessible electronic health record information service.

In this article, we draw on Michael Lipsky's work on street-level bureaucrats and discretion to analyse a real case setting comprising an interview study of 30 Swedish doctors regarding their experiences of changes in clinical work following patients being given access to medical records information online. We introduce the notion of invisibility work to capture how doctors exercise discretion to preserve the invisibility of their work, in contrast to the well-established notion of invisible work, which denotes work made invisible by parties other than those performing it. We discuss three main forms of invisibility work in relation to records: omitting information, cryptic writing and parallel note writing. We argue that invisibility work is a way for doctors to resolve professional tensions arising from the political decision to provide patients with online access to record information. Although invisibility work is understood by doctors as a solution to government-initiated visibility, we highlight how it can create difficulties for doctors concerning accountability towards patients, peers and authorities.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: Data From a Large Prospective European Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) etiology is not well understood. Reported inverse associations with smoking and coffee consumption prompted the investigation of alcohol consumption as a risk factor, for which evidence is inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between alcohol consumption and PD risk. METHODS: Within NeuroEPIC4PD, a prospective European population-based cohort, 694 incident PD cases were ascertained from 209,998 PD-free participants. Average alcohol consumption at different time points was self-reported at recruitment. Cox regression hazard ratios were estimated for alcohol consumption and PD occurrence. RESULTS: No associations between baseline or lifetime total alcohol consumption and PD risk were observed. Men with moderate lifetime consumption (5-29.9 g/day) were at ~50% higher risk compared with light consumption (0.1-4.9 g/day), but no linear exposure-response trend was observed. Analyses by beverage type also revealed no associations with PD. CONCLUSION: Our data reinforce previous findings from prospective studies showing no association between alcohol consumption and PD risk. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Evaluation of small nerve fiber dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To assess potential correlations between intraepidermal nerve fiber densities (IENFD), graded with light microscopy, and clinical measures of peripheral neuropathy in elderly male subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: IENFD was assessed in thin sections of skin biopsies from distal leg in 86 men (71-77 years); 24 NGT, 15 IGT, and 47 T2DM. Biopsies were immunohistochemically stained for protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, and intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENF) were quantified manually by light microscopy. IENFD was compared between groups with different glucose tolerance and related to neurophysiological tests, including nerve conduction study (NCS; sural and peroneal nerve), quantitative sensory testing (QST), and clinical examination (Total Neuropathy Score; Neuropathy Symptom Score and Neuropathy Disability Score). RESULTS: Absent IENF was seen in subjects with T2DM (n = 10; 21%) and IGT (n = 1; 7%) but not in NGT. IENFD correlated weakly negatively with HbA1c (r = -.268, P = .013) and Total Neuropathy Score (r = -.219, P = .042). Positive correlations were found between IENFD and sural nerve amplitude (r = .371, P = .001) as well as conduction velocity of both the sural (r = .241, P = .029) and peroneal nerve (r = .258, P = .018). Proportions of abnormal sural nerve amplitude became significantly higher with decreasing IENFD. No correlation was found with QST. Inter-rater reliability of IENFD assessment was good (ICC = 0.887). CONCLUSIONS: Signs of neuropathy are becoming more prevalent with decreasing IENFD. IENFD can be meaningfully evaluated in thin histopathological sections using the presented technique to detect neuropathy.

Long-Term Survival and Function After Stroke: A Longitudinal Observational Study From the Swedish Stroke Register.

Background and Purpose- Longitudinal long-term prognostic data after stroke based on large cohorts are sparse. We report recent survival and functional outcome data on ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) for up to 5 years poststroke from the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke). Methods- Beyond Riksstroke's regular follow-up surveys at 3 and 12 months, additional surveys were conducted in 2016 on 2 one-year cohorts with stroke 3 and 5 years earlier. Functional dependency was defined as modified Rankin Scale ≥3. Mortality data of the original cohorts were obtained from the Swedish Causes of Death Register. Multiple imputation was used to estimate functional status in nonresponders. Results- The study included 22 929 patients, 87.5% with IS and 12.5% with ICH. Loss to follow-up in the 4 surveys was 12.8% to 21.2%. Thirty-day mortality was higher for ICH than for IS (30.7% versus 11.1%; P<0.01), whereas for 30-day survivors, 5-year mortality did not differ significantly (P=0.858). Functional outcome was less favorable for ICH at all follow-up points. At 5 years, poor outcome (death or dependency) was 79% in ICH and 70.6% in IS (including imputed data; P<0.01). Favorable outcome was less common with increasing age and in patients with prestroke functional dependency. Conclusions- Despite advances in stroke care, long-term prognosis remains a cause for concern. At 5 years after stroke over 2 in 3 patients with IS, and over 3 in 4 patients with ICH, were dead or dependent. We present robust long-term prognostic data to serve as a reference for further development of healthcare and research in stroke.

Prognosis for intracerebral hemorrhage during ongoing oral anticoagulant treatment.

BACKGROUND: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious adverse effect of treatment with oral anticoagulants. Prognostic data after ICH associated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) compared to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are sparse. We compared 90-day survival and functional outcome following NOAC-ICH versus VKA-ICH using data from the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke). METHODS: Using data from Riksstroke and the Swedish Causes of Death Register between 2012 and 2016, we compared all-cause 90-day mortality for patients with NOAC-ICH versus VKA-ICH using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test. Cox regression, with adjustment for age, sex, previous stroke, and level of consciousness (LOC) on admission, was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for 90-day mortality. Estimated functional outcome at 90 days, based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), was compared between VKA- and NOAC-associated ICH using chi-squared test. RESULTS: We included 2483 patients; 300 with NOAC-ICH and 2183 with VKA-ICH. In both groups, mean age was 79 years, and 58% were male. No significant difference between NOAC-ICH and VKA-ICH was found for all-cause 90-day mortality (44.3% NOAC-ICH versus 42.6% VKA-ICH; P = 0.54, HR = 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-1.12) or 90-day estimated functional outcome (mRS 0-2:13.7% and 15.3%; mRS 3-5:27.3% and 28.9%, respectively (P = 0.52)). Factors predicting death were increased age (HR = 1.03; 95%CI: 1.02-1.04) and reduced LOC (drowsy: HR = 3.48; 95%CI: 2.86-4.23; comatose: HR = 12.27; 95%CI: 10.13-14.87). CONCLUSION: In this large study on anticoagulant-associated ICH, we found no significant difference in mortality and functional outcome at 90 days between NOAC-ICH versus VKA-ICH.

COOLIST (Cooling for Ischemic Stroke Trial): A Multicenter, Open, Randomized, Phase II, Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Animal studies suggest that cooling improves outcome after ischemic stroke. We assessed the feasibility and safety of surface cooling to different target temperatures in awake patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, open, phase II, clinical trial, comparing standard treatment with surface cooling to 34.0°C, 34.5°C, or 35.0°C in awake patients with acute ischemic stroke and an National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥6, initiated within 4.5 hours after symptom onset and maintained for 24 hours. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined as the proportion of patients who had successfully completed the assigned treatment. Safety was a secondary outcome. RESULTS: Inclusion was terminated after 22 patients because of slow recruitment. Five patients were randomized to 34.0°C, 6 to 34.5°C, 5 to 35.0°C (cooling was initiated in 4), and 6 to standard care. No (0%), 1 (17%), and 3 (75%) patients, respectively, completed the assigned treatment (P=0.03). No (0%), 2 (33%), and 4 (100%) patients reached the target temperature (P=0.01). Pneumonia occurred in 8 cooled patients but not in controls (absolute risk increase, 53%; 95% confidence interval, 28-79%; P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In awake patients with acute ischemic stroke, surface cooling is feasible to 35.0°C, but not to 34.5°C and 34.0°C. Cooling is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.trialregister.nl. Unique identifier: NTR2616.

Associations between Ischemic Stroke Follow-Up, Socioeconomic Status, and Adherence to Secondary Preventive Drugs in Southern Sweden: Observations from the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke).

BACKGROUND: Currently, the knowledge that one has on adequate stroke follow-up practices is limited. We report associations between 90-day stroke follow-up, socio-economy and adherence to secondary prevention in southern Sweden. METHODS: Data on 5,602 patients with ischemic stroke January 1, 2008-December 31, 2010, were obtained from Riksstroke and linked to official registers for information on education, birth country, doctor's follow-ups, and secondary prevention. Primary adherence at 4 months and persistence at 14 months post-stroke were calculated for warfarin, statins, antihypertensive, and antiplatelet drugs. RESULTS: The 90-day follow-up rate was 75%. Patients not receiving a 90-day follow-up had lower age-adjusted OR of persistent drug use at 14 months for antihypertensive agents (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60-0.91) and for antiplatelet drugs (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.60-0.87). Drug adherence rates 14 months post-stroke were 85% for antiplatelet drugs, 69% for warfarin, 88% for antihypertensive agents, and 76% for statins. One in three patients discontinued using one or more drug class within 14 months, and nonadherence was associated with activities of daily living dependency at 3 months (age-adjusted OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57-0.69), but not with age, gender, or educational status. CONCLUSIONS: The use of secondary preventive drugs decreases over the first year after stroke and remains suboptimal. Specific reasons for nonadherence warrant further study.

Atrial Fibrillation in Transient Ischemic Attack Versus Ischemic Stroke: A Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Compared with ischemic stroke (IS), the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with transient ischemic attack (TIA) is less well established. We aimed to assess the proportion of AF in patients with TIA, and these patients' characteristics and secondary preventive treatment in comparison to patients with IS. METHODS: Hospital-based data on TIA and IS events, registered from July 2011 to June 2013, were obtained from the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke). A time-based TIA definition (duration of symptoms <24 hours) was applied. AF was registered as present when previously known or diagnosed at the time of assessment. RESULTS: AF was present in 2779 of 14 980 (18.6%) patients with TIA and 13 258 of 44 173 (30.0%) patients with IS. The proportion of AF increased with age, reaching 32.9% in TIA and 46.6% in IS patients ≥85 years. Both in TIA and IS, age, hypertension, a history of stroke, and TIA, and being a nonsmoker were associated with the presence of AF. In contrast to IS, AF was less common in female than in male patients with TIA. At discharge, 64.2% of TIA and 50.0% of IS patients with AF were treated with oral anticoagulants. Proportions of AF patients treated with oral anticoagulants decreased substantially with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: AF is highly prevalent not only in IS but also in TIA patients, with proportions steeply increasing with age. In both TIA and IS, a substantial proportion of patients with AF were discharged without anticoagulant therapy.

Perceived Unmet Rehabilitation Needs 1 Year After Stroke: An Observational Study From the Swedish Stroke Register.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Met care demands are key aspects in poststroke quality of care. This study aimed to identify baseline predictors and 12-month factors that were associated with perceived unmet rehabilitation needs 1 year poststroke. METHODS: Data on patients who were independent in activities of daily living, hospitalized for acute stroke during 2008 to 2010, and followed up 1 year poststroke through a postal questionnaire were obtained from the Swedish stroke register. Patients reporting fulfilled rehabilitation needs were compared with those with unmet needs (Chi square test). RESULTS: The study included 37 383 patients, 46% female. At 12 months, 8019 (21.5%) patients reported unmet rehabilitation needs. Compared with those with met rehabilitation needs, patients reporting unmet rehabilitation needs were older (75.4 versus 72.4 years; P<0.0001); a higher proportion was activities of daily living-dependent (59% versus 31.9%; P<0.0001) and institutionalized (24.3% versus 11.5%; P<0.0001) at 12 months. Poststroke depression (32.3% versus 24.9%; P<0.0001) and insufficient pain medication were more common in patients with unmet needs (54.5% versus 32.3%; P<0.0001). Baseline predictors of unmet rehabilitation needs at 12 months in an age-adjusted model were severe stroke (odds ratio [OR]=3.04; confidence interval [CI]: 2.39-3.87), prior stroke (OR=1.63; CI: 1.53-1.75), female sex (OR=1.14; CI: 1.07-1.20), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.24; CI: 1.15-1.32), stroke other than ischemic (OR=1.26; CI: 1.20-1.32), and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.19; CI: 1.12-1.27). CONCLUSIONS: Unfulfilled rehabilitation needs 1 year poststroke are common and associated with high age, dependency, pain, and depression. Long-term follow-up systems should, therefore, be comprehensive and address multiple domains of poststroke problems, rather than having a single-domain focus.

Physical activity and risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in a prospective cohort study.

Previous case-control studies have suggested a possible increased risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) with physical activity (PA), but this association has never been studied in prospective cohort studies. We therefore assessed the association between PA and risk of death from ALS in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. A total of 472,100 individuals were included in the analysis, yielding 219 ALS deaths. At recruitment, information on PA was collected thorough standardised questionnaires. Total PA was expressed by the Cambridge Physical Activity Index (CPAI) and analysed in relation to ALS mortality, using Cox hazard models. Interactions with age, sex, and anthropometric measures were assessed. Total PA was weakly inversely associated with ALS mortality with a borderline statistically significant trend across categories (p = 0.042), with those physically active being 33% less likely to die from ALS compared to those inactive: HR = 0.67 (95% CI 0.42-1.06). Anthropometric measures, sex, and age did not modify the association with CPAI. The present study shows a slightly decreased-not increased like in case-control studies-risk of dying from ALS in those with high levels of total PA at enrolment. This association does not appear confounded by age, gender, anthropometry, smoking, and education. Ours was the first prospective cohort study on ALS and physical activity.

Changes in functional outcome over the first year after stroke: an observational study from the Swedish stroke register.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Large longitudinal studies on stroke outcome are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyze predictors and changes in functional outcome during the first year poststroke. METHODS: Data on patients who were independent in activities of daily living (ADL) and hospitalized for acute stroke in 2008 to 2010 were obtained from the Swedish Stroke Register. Case fatality was assessed by linkage to the Swedish Population Register. ADL was defined by independence or dependence in dressing, toileting, and indoor mobility and assessed at 3 and 12 months. Predictors of ADL dependency were assessed through multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In total, 64 746 patients were included. Case fatality at 3 months was 13.1% (men 11.6% versus women 14.8%; P<0.0001) and at 12 months 18.2% (men 16.4% versus women 20.3%; P<0,0001). In the 35 064 followed-up survivors, ADL dependency rates at 3 and 12 months were 16.2% (men 15.9% versus women 19.2%; P<0.0001) and 28.3% (men 22.7% versus women 34.9%, P<0.0001), respectively. Factors predicting deterioration to ADL dependency between 3 and 12 months were female sex (relative risk [RR]=1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-1.70), diabetes mellitus (RR=1.50; 95% CI, 1.05-1.60), comatose at admittance (RR=2.34; 95% CI, 1.79-3.05), previous stroke (RR=1.52; 95% CI, 1.43-1.61), hemorrhagic or unspecified stroke (RR=1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.25), and atrial fibrillation (RR= 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.17). CONCLUSIONS: Transition from ADL independence to dependence was observed in a high proportion of patients between 3 and 12 months, challenging the common belief that functioning after stroke is stable beyond 3 months. Deterioration occurred more commonly in women, among whom 1/6 converted to dependency.

Validation of Diagnoses of Transient Ischemic Attack in the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke) TIA-Module.

BACKGROUND: In 2010, the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke; RS) established a module for transient ischemic attacks (RS-TIA). We report a diagnostic validation study of patients included in RS-TIA. METHODS: During the first year, 7,825 patients were registered at 59 out of 74 Swedish hospitals. A time-based TIA definition was applied. A sample of 180 patients (30 patients each from 6 hospitals), with a similar distribution of age and sex as in RS-TIA, was prepared. Two independent observers assessed medical records for quality of documentation and assigned a diagnosis of likely, possible, unlikely TIA or ischemic stroke, according to prespecified criteria. RESULTS: The 2 observers agreed in 77% of cases that the event was a likely or possible TIA, in 3% that the event was an ischemic stroke, and in 2% that the event was an unlikely TIA. The observers disagreed in 8% of patients on TIA vs. ischemic stroke, and in 11% on a vascular vs. non-vascular cause. Quality of documentation was fair. CONCLUSIONS: There was interobserver agreement on diagnosis of TIA in the majority of patients included in RS-TIA. Diagnostic accuracy may be further improved by more systematic documentation of symptoms and signs.