Risk of Ischemic Stroke after an Inpatient Hospitalization for Transient Ischemic Attack in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: A diagnosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA) must be followed by prompt investigation and rapid initiation of measures to prevent stroke. Prior studies evaluating the risk of stroke after TIA were conducted in the emergency room or clinic settings. Experience of patients admitted to the hospital after a TIA is not well known. We sought to assess the early risk of ischemic stroke after inpatient hospitalization for TIA. METHODS: We used the 2010-2015 Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify all hospitalizations with the primary discharge diagnosis of TIA and investigated the incidence of ischemic stroke readmissions within 90 days of discharge from the index hospitalization. RESULTS: Of 639,569 index TIA admissions discharged alive (mean ± SD age 70.4 ± 14.4 years, 58.7% female), 9,131 (1.4%) were readmitted due to ischemic stroke within 90 days. Male sex, head/neck vessel atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, atrial flutter/fibrillation, previous history of TIA/stroke, illicit drug use, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score were independently associated with readmissions due to ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke readmissions were associated with excess mortality, discharge disposition other than to home, and elevated cost. CONCLUSIONS: Patients hospitalized for TIA have a lower risk of ischemic stroke compared to that reported in the studies based on the emergency room and/or outpatient clinic evaluation. Among these patients, those with cardiovascular comorbidities remain at a higher risk of readmission due to ischemic stroke despite undergoing an inpatient evaluation and should therefore be the target for future preventive strategies.

Nationwide practices in the use of central venous catheters for therapeutic plasma exchange in the inpatient setting.

INTRODUCTION: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is often impacted by difficulties in obtaining an adequate and safe vascular access. This study evaluated the rates, predictive factors, and clinical outcomes associated with central venous catheter (CVC) use during the inpatient TPE procedures. METHODS: The Nationwide Readmissions Database, 2016 to 2017 was used to identify hospitalizations with TPE with and without CVC insertion. RESULTS: During the study period, there were 35 429 hospitalizations with TPE (pediatric 6.1%, mean ± standard deviation (SD) age 50.9 ± 20.0 years, female 52.7%). CVC insertion was documented in 24 414 (73.4%) adult and 1596 (73.5%) pediatric hospitalizations. In pediatric patients, age >15 years, higher disease severity, and private insurance were associated with higher odds of CVC insertion. In adults, female sex, obesity, concurrent hemodialysis, and higher disease severity were associated with CVC insertion. Adults with private insurance and both adult and pediatric hospitalizations at the teaching hospitals had lower odds of CVC placement. All patients with CVC insertion had longer length of hospital stay, and adults with CVC insertion also had higher hospital charges, higher in-hospital mortality, and lower likelihood of being discharged to home. CONCLUSION: CVC insertion is performed for the majority of inpatient TPE procedures and CVC use appears to correlate with worse clinical outcomes.

The Intracerebral Hemorrhage Score Overestimates Mortality in Young Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) score is accurate in predicting 30-day mortality in young adults, we calculated the ICH score for 156 young adults (aged 18-45) with primary spontaneous ICH and compared predicted to observed 30-day mortality rates. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients aged 18-45 consecutively presenting to the University of Iowa from 2009 to 2019 with ICH. We calculated the ICH score and recorded its individual subcomponents for each patient. Poisson regression was used to test the association of ICH score components with 30-day mortality. RESULTS: We identified 156 patients who met the inclusion criteria; mean± standard deviation (SD) age was 35±8 years. The 30-day mortality rate was 15% (n=24). The ICH score was predictive of 30-day mortality for each unit increase (p= 0.04 for trend), but the observed mortality rates for each ICH score varied considerably from the original ICH score predictions. Most notably, the 30-day mortality rates for ICH scores of 1, 2, and 3 are predicted to be 13%, 26%, and 72% respectively, but were observed in our population to be 0%, 3%, and 41%. An ICH volume of >30cc [relative risk (RR) 28, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3-315, p=0.01] and a GCS score of <5 (RR 13, 95% CI 0.1-1176, p=0.01) were independently associated with 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The ICH score tends to overestimate mortality in young adults. ICH volume and GCS score are the most relevant items in predicting mortality at 30 days in young adults.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke Versus Other Neurological Conditions.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the risk of VTE in hospitalizations due to AIS as compared to those due to non-vascular neurological conditions. We also aimed to assess any potential association between VTE risk and the use of intravenous thrombolysis (rtPA) among hospitalizations with AIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2016-2018. Propensity score matching was used to adjust for the baseline differences between the groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the risk of VTE. RESULTS: We identified 1,541,685 hospitalizations due to AIS and 1,453,520 hospitalizations due to non-vascular neurological diagnoses that served as controls. After propensity score matching, 640,560 cases with AIS and corresponding well-matched controls were obtained. Hospitalizations due to AIS had higher odds of VTE as compared to the controls [odds ratio (OR) 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-1.60, P<0.001]. Among hospitalizations with AIS, 184,065 (11.9%) got rtPA. The odds of VTE were lower among the AIS hospitalizations that received rtPA as compared to those that did not (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.79-0.99, P0.035). CONCLUSION: Hospitalizations due to AIS have a higher risk of VTE as compared to the non-vascular neurological controls. Among AIS cases, the risk of VTE is lower among patients treated with rtPA. These epidemiological findings support the hypothesis that the risk of VTE after AIS might be partly mediated by an intrinsic pro-coagulant state.

Differential Risk Factors and Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke due to Cervical Artery Dissection in Young Adults.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical artery dissection (CeAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke in young adults. Our understanding of the specific risk factors and clinical course of CeAD is still evolving. In this study, we evaluated the differential risk factors and outcomes of CeAD-related strokes among young adults. METHODS: The study population consisted of young patients 15-45 years of age consecutively admitted with acute ischemic stroke to our comprehensive stroke center between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016. Diagnosis of CeAD was based on clinical and radiological findings. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with CeAD-related strokes. RESULTS: Of the total 333 patients with acute ischemic stroke included in the study (mean ± SD age: 36.4 ± 7.1 years; women 50.8%), CeAD was identified in 79 (23.7%) patients. As compared to stroke due to other etiologies, patients with CeAD were younger in age, more likely to have history of migraine and recent neck manipulation and were less likely to have hypertension, diabetes, and previous history of stroke. Clinical outcomes of CeAD were comparable to strokes due to other etiologies. Within the CeAD group, higher initial stroke severity and history of tobacco use were associated with higher modified Rankin Scale score at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: While history of migraine and neck manipulation are significantly associated with CeAD, most of the traditional vascular risk factors for stroke are less prevalent in this group when compared to strokes due to other etiologies. For CeAD-related strokes, higher initial stroke severity and history of tobacco use may be associated with higher stroke-related disability, but overall, patients with CeAD have similar outcomes as compared to strokes due to other etiologies.

Secular Trends for Etiologies of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is not rare among young adults. Understanding secular trends in the mechanism of ischemic stroke in young adults may help guide evaluation and secondary prevention. This study compares the mechanism of ischemic stroke and diagnostic studies in two groups of young adults treated at the University of Iowa 20 years apart. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients aged 15-45 who presented to the University of Iowa Hospitals between 1/2010-11/2016 with ischemic stroke confirmed by imaging. Diagnostic studies and stroke etiologies for each patient using the TOAST criteria were reviewed and compared to a historic sample of young patients of the same age who presented to our center in 1977-1993. RESULTS: We identified 322 young adults, 165 (51.2%) were women. The mean age was 36.3 ± 7.2 years. Vessel imaging was performed in 317 (95.2%) cases vs. 68.9% in the historic sample. Of these, 259 (80.4%) had magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), while diagnostic angiogram was the sole modality used for vessel imaging in the historic sample. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed in 101 (31.4%) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 169 (52.5%) cases compared to 67.1% who underwent TTE in the historic sample. In comparison with the historic sample, there was a significant decline in strokes due to small vessel disease [odds ratio (OR) 0.49, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.25-0.97]. The most common etiology of stroke in our sample was cervical artery dissection in 79 (24.5%) patients, whereas this was found in only 6.0% of patients in the historic sample [OR 5.0 and CI (2.99-8.44). CONCLUSIONS: Using the TOAST classification, cryptogenic stroke remained the most common subtype in young adults. While the most common cause for ischemic stroke was cervical artery dissection. DISCLOSURES: Enrique Leira receive salary support from the National Institute of Health.

Management of Ischemic Stroke Following Left Ventricular Assist Device.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke is a common complication and an important source of morbidity and mortality in patients with left ventricular assist devices. There are no standardized protocols to guide management of ischemic stroke among patients with left ventricular assist device. We evaluated our experience treating patients who had an acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent left ventricular assist device placement from 2010-2019 and identified patients who had acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement. RESULTS: Of 216 patients having left ventricular assist device placement (mean±SD age 52.9±16.2 years, women 26.9%), 19 (8.8%) had acute ischemic stroke (mean±SD age 55.8±12.0 years, women 36.8%). Median (interquartile range) time to ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device placement was 96 (29-461) days. At the time of the ischemic stroke, 16/19 (84.2%) patients were taking both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, 1/19 (5.3%) patient was receiving only anticoagulants, 1/19 (5.3%) patient was taking aspirin and dipyridamole, and 1/19 (5.3%) patient was not taking antithrombic agents. INR was subtherapeutic (INR<2.0) in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. No patient was eligible to receive thrombolytic therapy, while 5/19 (26.3%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Anticoagulation was continued in the acute stroke phase in 11/19 (57.9%) patients and temporarily held in 8/19 (42.1%) patients. Hemorrhagic transformation of the ischemic stroke occurred in 6/19 (31.6%) patients. Anticoagulation therapy was continued following ischemic stroke in 4/6 (66.7%) patients with hemorrhagic transformation. CONCLUSIONS: While thrombolytic therapy is frequently contraindicated in the management of acute ischemic stroke following left ventricular assist device, mechanical thrombectomy remains a valid option in eligible patients. Anticoagulation is often continued through the acute phase of ischemic stroke secondary to concerns for LVAD thrombosis. The risks and benefits of continuing anticoagulation must be weighed carefully, especially in patients with large infarct volume, as hemorrhagic transformation remains a common complication.

Intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients who were surgically ablated do not need adjuvant radioiodine therapy: long-term outcome study.

OBJECTIVE: The mute question is whether patients with DTC of intermediate risk of recurrence, second most common presentation, who were surgically ablated in the first place, ever needed adjuvant RAI therapy? This study exclusively evaluated the long-term outcome in intermediate-risk patients with DTC. DESIGN: Two-arm retrospective cohort study conducted between years 1991 and 2012. SETTING: Institutional practice. PATIENTS: Intermediate-risk DTC patients, with pathologically proven T1/2 N1 M0, T3 with/without N1 M0 disease, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months, were included. Of 254 patients who fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 125 patients were surgically ablated (Gr-I) and 129 patients had significant remnant and/nodal disease (Gr-II). No radioiodine in Gr-I and adjuvant RAI therapy was administered in Gr-II patients. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline characteristics were compared and overall survival, event-free survival, disease-free survival/overall remission rates and recurrence rates were calculated for both the groups. RESULTS: All baseline patient characteristics were comparable except 24-h RAIU between two groups. Depending on adjuvant radioiodine therapy outcome, Gr-II patients were subclassified as Gr-IIa (ablated) and Gr-IIb (not ablated). With a median follow-up duration of 10·3 years (range: 1-21 years), 12/125 (9·6%) patients had disease recurrence and 10 (8%) showed persistent disease in Gr-I. In Gr-IIa, 6/102 (5·9%) patients recurred but only one of them was successfully ablated with (131) I, and 5 (4·9%) had persistent disease. However, in Gr-IIb, 27 patients who failed first-dose adjuvant RAI therapy, 8/27 (29·6%) showed persistent disease (P = 0·000). Overall survival was 100%; however, disease-free survival rates were 92% and 90%, in Gr-I and Gr-II, respectively. CONCLUSION: Intermediate-risk surgically ablated patients do not need adjuvant RAI therapy and patients who failed to achieve ablation with first dose of (131) I may be dynamically risk stratified as high-risk category and managed aggressively.

Mortality among homeless women who remain unclaimed after death: An insight.

BACKGROUND: Some homeless people remain unclaimed after death. Although women constitute a minor proportion among the homeless, they represent a more vulnerable section. We reviewed the major autopsy characteristics and causes of death among women whose bodies remained unclaimed after death. METHODS: We analysed the autopsy records and inquest papers of unclaimed bodies of women for the period 2006-12 at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. RESULTS: Most women whose bodies were unclaimed were 21 to 60 years old with a mean age of 45 years. Natural events (53.5%), largely attributable to acute/chronic lung diseases, were identified as the most common cause of death. Accidental deaths were predominant among the unnatural causes. Most bodies of women were found on the footpath besides the road (56.1%). CONCLUSION: The problems of physical/sexual abuse, acute chest infections and road traffic accidents are all aggravated in the situation of homelessness. More affordable shelters are needed to preferentially accommodate women. Also, awareness about the existing medical facilities needs to be increased.

Lung metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: prognostic factors related to remission and disease-free survival.

OBJECTIVE: Distant metastases, although rare, account for maximum disease-related mortality in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Lungs and bones are the most frequent sites of metastases. We sought to identify the prognostic factors in adult DTC patients presenting with pulmonary metastases at initial diagnosis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS: From the medical records of 4370 patients, 200 patients aged more than 21 years who were identified to have pulmonary metastases at the time of diagnosis were included in the analysis. RESULTS: The sites of metastases were lungs alone in 133 (67%) patients, and additional sites in remaining 67 (33%) patients were as follows: bones in 59, liver in 4, brain in 2 and both bone and liver in two patients. During the mean follow-up of 61 months (range, 12-312 months), 76 patients achieved remission, 121 (60·5%) patients had biochemically and/or structurally persistent disease and three patients showed disease progression. Multivariate analysis revealed presence of macro-nodular (chest X-ray positive) pulmonary metastases and concomitant skeletal metastases as independent factors decreasing the likelihood of remission. Of the 76 patients with remission, 16 (21%) developed subsequent recurrence. Patient age >45 years and follicular histopathology were independently associated with greater hazards of developing recurrence. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the patients with macro-nodular lung metastases and/or concomitant skeletal metastases have reduced odds of achieving remission. Moreover, significant number of patients recur even after complete remission with RAI treatment, hence strict surveillance is recommended especially in patients with age >45 years and/or with follicular histology of DTC.

Epidemiology of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) and its subtype, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), is on the rise due to aging of the population. HFpEF is convergence of several pathophysiological processes, which are not yet clearly identified. HFpEF is usually seen in association with systemic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, renal and pulmonary disease. The proportion of HF patients with HFpEF varies by patient demographics, study settings (cohort vs. clinical trial, outpatient clinics vs. hospitalised patients) and cut points used to define preserved function. There is an expanding body of literature about prevalence and prognostic significance of both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular comorbidities in HFpEF patients. Current therapeutic approaches are targeted towards alleviating the symptoms, treating the associated comorbid conditions, and reducing recurrent hospital admissions. There is lack of evidence-based therapies that show a reduction in the mortality amongst HFpEF patients; however, an improvement in exercise tolerance and quality of life is seen with few interventions. In this review, we highlight the epidemiology and current treatment options for HFpEF.

Endovascular coiling versus neurosurgical clipping for treatment of ruptured and unruptured intracranial aneurysms during pregnancy and postpartum period.

BACKGROUND: Selection of appropriate surgical strategy for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IA) during pregnancy requires careful consideration of the potential risks to the mother and fetus. However, limited data guide treatment decisions in these patients. We compared the safety profiles of endovascular coiling (EC) and neurosurgical clipping (NC) performed for the treatment of ruptured and unruptured IA during pregnancy and the postpartum period. METHODS: Pregnancy-related or postpartum hospitalizations undergoing surgical intervention for IA were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2018. Safety outcomes included periprocedural complications, in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, and 30-day non-elective readmissions. RESULTS: There were 348 pregnancy-related or postpartum hospitalizations that met the study inclusion criteria (mean±SD age 31.8±5.9 years). Among 168 patients treated for ruptured aneurysms, 115 (68.5%) underwent EC and 53 (31.5%) underwent NC; whereas among 180 patients treated for unruptured aneurysms, 140 (77.8%) underwent EC and 40 (22.2%) underwent NC. There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline characteristics between patients undergoing EC versus NC for either ruptured or unruptured aneurysm groups. The outcomes were statistically comparable between EC and NC for both ruptured and unruptured IA, except for a lower incidence of ischemic stroke in patients undergoing EC for ruptured aneurysms (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Most pregnant and postpartum patients are treated with EC for both ruptured and unruptured IA. For treatment of ruptured IA, EC is independently associated with a lower risk of perioperative ischemic stroke, but other in-hospital complications and mortality are comparable between EC and NC.

In-hospital outcomes and recurrence of stroke during pregnancy and puerperium.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the best management and outcomes of acute stroke during pregnancy and the puerperium. METHODS: Pregnancy-related hospitalizations with age > 18 years were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2018. The study cohort consisted of all patients with acute stroke and a 5% random sample of the remaining non-stroke hospitalizations. Logistic regression and survival analyses were used to compare the in-hospital outcomes and readmissions in patients with and without acute stroke. RESULTS: There were 11,829,044 pregnancy-related hospitalizations, of which 4057 had acute stroke. The mean ± SD age of the study cohort was 29.0 ± 5.7 years. Among patients with acute ischemic stroke, 60 (3.7%) patients received intravenous thrombolysis and 112 (6.8%) patients underwent endovascular thrombectomy. Among patients with intracranial hemorrhage, 205 (10.5%) patients underwent ventriculostomy and 18 (0.9%) patients underwent decompressive craniotomy. Patients with stroke had longer length of stay (mean: 10.7 vs 2.7 days), higher in-hospital mortality (4.6% vs 0.0001%) and were less likely to discharge home (73.0% vs 98.6%). Non-elective readmission within 90 days of discharge occurred in 14.8% of patients with stroke versus in 3.9% of patients without stroke. Readmissions due to cerebrovascular events occurred in 2.3% of patients with stroke versus in 0.007% of patients without stroke within 1 year of discharge, with mean ± SD time to readmission 66.2 ± 78.0 days. CONCLUSION: Stroke is a serious complication of pregnancy, associated with high morbidity and mortality. Recurrence of stroke occurs in a small proportion of patients, and the risk is highest during the initial 3 months.

Recurrent intracerebral hemorrhage in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a propensity-matched case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) can present with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), convexity subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and rarely acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The objective of our study was to compare the readmission rates for recurrent ICH, SAH, and AIS among patients admitted for ICH with and without CAA. METHODS: Using the National Readmissions Database 2016-2018 we identified patients admitted for ICH with and without a concomitant diagnosis of CAA. Primary outcome of the study was readmission due to ICH. Secondary outcomes included readmissions due to AIS and SAH. Survival analysis was performed, and Kaplan-Meier curves were created to assess for readmissions. RESULTS: The study consisted of 194,290 patients with ICH, 8247 with CAA and 186,043 without CAA as a concomitant diagnosis. After propensity matching, we identified 7857 hospitalizations with CAA and 7874 without CAA. Patients with CAA had higher risk of readmission due to ICH as compared to those without CAA [hazards ratio (HR) 3.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.55-4.64, P < 0.001] during the mean follow-up period of 181.4 (SD ± 106.4) days. Patients with CAA were also more likely to be readmitted due to SAH (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.18-5.37, P 0.017) but not due to AIS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.54-1.01, P 0.061). Age (HR 0.96 per year increase in age, 95% CI 0.94-0.98, P < 0.001) and Medicare payer (HR 3.31; 95% CI 1.89-5.78, P < 0.001) were independently associated with readmissions due to ICH. DISCUSSION: Patients admitted for ICH with a concomitant diagnosis of CAA are three times more likely to have readmissions for recurrent ICH compared to patients without CAA.

Early Readmissions After Hospitalization for Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency, etiologies, and risk factors for 90-day readmissions following hospitalization for PRES. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2018. Patients with primary diagnosis of PRES, survival to discharge, and known discharge disposition were included. Primary outcome was non-elective readmission within 90 days of discharge. Survival analysis was performed, and independent predictors of readmission were analyzed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Based on the study inclusion criteria, 6,155 eligible patients were included (mean±SD age: 55.9±17.3 years, female: 71.0%). Non-elective readmission within 90 days of discharge occurred for 1,922 (31.2%) patients. Of these, 617 readmissions were due to PRES-related or neurological etiologies and the remaining 1305 readmissions were due to non-neurological conditions. In multivariable analysis, age was inversely associated with risk of readmission [hazards ratio (HR): 0.92 for every 10 years increase in age, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88-0.97]. Patients with diabetes (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04-1.42), systemic lupus erythematosus (HR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.03-1.96), acute kidney injury (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.11-1.47) and higher Charlson comorbidity index score (HR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.13) were more likely to be readmitted. Further, patients admitted at large bed size hospitals (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39), those with longer length of stay (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02) and those not discharged to home (HR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14-1.55) during the index hospitalization were also at a higher risk for readmission. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-third of patients hospitalized due to PRES are readmitted within 90 days of discharge and about one-third of these readmissions are due to PRES-related or neurological etiologies. Younger age, a higher comorbidity burden, longer length of hospital stay, and discharge disposition other than to home are independently associated with the risk of readmission.

In-Hospital Outcomes and Recurrence of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Solid Organ Malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of solid organ malignancies on the in-hospital outcomes and recurrent strokes among patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). METHODS: Adult hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of AIS were identified from the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2018. Logistic regression was used to compare the differences in the utilization of acute stroke interventions and clinical outcomes in patients with and without malignancy. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the risk of readmission due to recurrent stroke after discharge. RESULTS: There were 1385840 hospitalizations due to AIS (mean±SD age 70.4±14.0 years, female 50.2%). Of these, 50553 (3.7%) had a concurrent diagnosis of solid organ malignancy. The five most common malignancies included lung cancer (24.6%), prostate cancer (13.2%), breast cancer (9.3%), pancreatic cancer (6.5%), and colorectal cancer (6.2%). After adjustment for baseline differences, patients with malignancy were more likely to have intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) [odds ratio (OR): 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.19], in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 2.04-2.28), and discharge disposition other than to home (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.64-1.75). Patients with malignancy were less likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis (tPA) and were more likely to undergo mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Among the subgroups of patients treated with tPA or MT, the outcomes were comparable between patients with and without malignancy, except patients with lung cancer remained at a higher risk of mortality and adverse disposition despite these acute stroke interventions. Patients with malignancy were at a higher risk of readmission due to recurrent AIS within 1 year of discharge (hazards ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.25), and this risk was specifically driven by the lung and pancreatic cancers. CONCLUSION: While patients with malignancy generally have worse in-hospital outcomes as compared to those without, there is considerable variation in these outcomes according to the different cancer types and the use of acute stroke interventions. The use of tPA and MT is generally safe for eligible patients with an underlying malignancy. Patients with lung and pancreatic cancers have a higher early risk of recurrent stroke and might need more intensive surveillance and careful institution of the optimal secondary prevention measures.

Acute Carotid Artery Stenting Versus Balloon Angioplasty for Tandem Occlusions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Despite thrombectomy having become the standard of care for large-vessel occlusion strokes, acute endovascular management in tandem occlusions, especially of the cervical internal carotid artery lesion, remains uncertain. We aimed to compare efficacy and safety of acute carotid artery stenting to balloon angioplasty alone on treating the cervical lesion in tandem occlusions. Similarly, we aimed to explore those outcomes' associations with technique approaches and use of thrombolysis. Methods and Results We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale), reperfusion, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 3-month mortality. We explored the association of first approach (anterograde/retrograde) and use of thrombolysis with those outcomes as well. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. A random-effects model was used for analysis. Thirty-four studies were included in our systematic review and 9 in the meta-analysis. Acute carotid artery stenting was associated with higher odds of modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.95 [95% CI, 1.24-3.05]) and successful reperfusion (OR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.26-2.83]), with no differences in mortality or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rates. Moreover, a retrograde approach was significantly associated with modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.05-2.83]), and no differences were found on thrombolysis status. Conclusions Carotid artery stenting and a retrograde approach had higher odds of successful reperfusion and good functional outcomes at 3 months than balloon angioplasty and an anterograde approach, respectively, in patients with tandem occlusions. A randomized controlled trial comparing these techniques with structured antithrombotic regimens and safety outcomes will offer definitive guidance in the optimal management of this complex disease.

Predictors and outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is the most common neurologic complication of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). In this study, we compared hemorrhagic and non-hemorrhagic RCVS with an aim to evaluate the risk factors and short-term clinical outcomes of hemorrhagic lesions. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2017 to identify all hospitalizations due to RCVS. Predictors and clinical outcomes of ICH were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the total 1834 hospitalizations for RCVS during the study period (mean ± SD age:48.4 ± 15.6 years, female:75.8%), 768 (41.9%) had occurrence of ICH. Patients with ICH were more likely to be female (OR:2.72, 95% CI:1.86-3.97), have a history of hypertension (OR:1.63, 95% CI:1.20-2.22) and cocaine use (OR:3.11, 95% CI:1.49-6.51), and were less likely to have a history of diabetes (OR:0.52, 95% CI:0.32-0.84) and heart failure (OR:0.34, 95% CI:0.14-0.84). Hemorrhagic RCVS was associated with higher odds of cerebral edema (OR:10.71, 95% CI:5.75-19.97), new onset seizure (OR:2.24, 95% CI:1.08-4.61), respiratory failure (OR:2.40, 95% CI:1.37-4.22) and gastrostomy tube placement (OR:3.20, 95% CI:1.07-9.58). Patients with hemorrhagic lesions also had longer length of hospital stay (mean difference 5.5 days), higher hospital charges (mean difference $105,547), and a lower likelihood of discharge to home (OR:0.61, 95% CI:0.43-0.86). There was, however, no significant difference in the in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: ICH affects nearly 42% of patients with RCVS and is associated with increased rate of other neurologic complications and adverse discharge disposition, thus putting into question the prevailing conception that RCVS is generally a benign disorder with a self-limiting clinical course.

Predictors and outcomes of ischemic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical factors predisposing to ischemic stroke in reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are unclear. In this observational cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate the risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with the development of ischemic stroke in patients with RCVS. METHODS: We utilized the Nationwide Readmissions Database 2016-2017 to identify all hospitalizations with RCVS, with or without acute ischemic stroke. Independent predictors of and clinical outcomes associated with ischemic stroke were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 1065 hospitalizations for RCVS (mean ± SD age 49.0 ± 16.7 years, female 69.7%), 267 (25.1%) had ischemic stroke. Patients with ischemic stroke were more likely to have hypertension (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.51-3.60), diabetes (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.11-2.98), and tobacco use (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.16-2.33) and were less likely to have a history of migraine (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.35-0.90). Ischemic stroke was associated with higher odds of cerebral edema (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.31-7.57) and respiratory failure (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.28-4.44). Patients with ischemic stroke also had longer hospital stay by a mean duration of 6.7 days, P < 0.001, higher hospital charges by a mean of $72,961, P < 0.001, and a higher likelihood of not being discharged to home (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.39-5.33). They had higher in-hospital mortality rate; however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Ischemic stroke affects nearly 25% of patients with RCVS and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. RCVS patients with cerebrovascular risk factors might have a higher predisposition for developing ischemic lesions during the disease process.