Determinants and Trends of the Use of Intravenous Thrombolysis for Minor Stroke: A Population-Based Study, 2016 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the main factors associated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with minor ischemic stroke. METHODS: Data were obtained from a prospective, government-mandated, population-based registry of stroke code patients in Catalonia (6 Comprehensive Stroke Centers, 8 Primary Stroke Centers, and 14 TeleStroke Centers). We selected patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤5 at hospital admission from January 2016 to December 2020. We excluded patients with a baseline modified Rankin Scale score of ≥3, absolute contraindication for IVT, unknown stroke onset, or admitted to hospital beyond 4.5 after stroke onset. The main outcome was treatment with IVT. We performed univariable and binary logistic regression analyses to identify the most important factors associated with IVT. RESULTS: We included 2975 code strokes; 1433 (48.2%) received IVT of which 30 (2.1%) had a symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation. Patients treated with IVT as compared to patients who did not receive IVT were more frequently women, had higher NIHSS, arrived earlier to hospital, were admitted to a Comprehensive Stroke Centers, and had large vessel occlusion. After binary logistic regression, NIHSS score 4 to 5 (odds ratio, 40.62 [95% CI, 31.73-57.22]; P<0.001) and large vessel occlusion (odds ratio, 16.39 [95% CI, 7.25-37.04]; P<0.001) were the strongest predictors of IVT. Younger age, female sex, baseline modified Rankin Scale score of 0, earlier arrival to hospital (<120 minutes after stroke onset), and the type of stroke center were also independently associated with IVT. The weight of large vessel occlusion on IVT was higher in patients with lower NIHSS. CONCLUSIONS: Minor stroke female patients, with higher NIHSS, arriving earlier to the hospital, presenting with large vessel occlusion and admitted to a Comprehensive Stroke Centers were more likely to receive intravenous thrombolysis.

Risk factors analysis according to regional distribution of white matter hyperintensities in a stroke cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The spectrum of distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) may reflect different functional, histopathological, and etiological features. We examined the relationships between cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRF) and different patterns of WMH in MRI using a qualitative visual scale in ischemic stroke (IS) patients. METHODS: We assembled clinical data and imaging findings from patients of two independent cohorts with recent IS. MRI scans were evaluated using a modified visual scale from Fazekas, Wahlund, and Van Swieten. WMH distributions were analyzed separately in periventricular (PV-WMH) and deep (D-WMH) white matter, basal ganglia (BG-WMH), and brainstem (B-WMH). Presence of confluence of PV-WMH and D-WMH and anterior-versus-posterior WMH predominance were also evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software. RESULTS: We included 618 patients, with a mean age of 72 years (standard deviation [SD] 11 years). The most frequent WMH pattern was D-WMH (73%). In a multivariable analysis, hypertension was associated with PV-WMH (odds ratio [OR] 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-2.50, p = 0.001) and BG-WMH (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.19-3.83, p = 0.012). Diabetes mellitus was significantly related to PV-WMH (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.24-2.30, p = 0.001), D-WMH (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07-1.49, p = 0.017), and confluence patterns of D-WMH and PV-WMH (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.07-2.47, p = 0.024). Hyperlipidemia was found to be independently related to brainstem distribution (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.08-2.69, p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Different CVRF profiles were significantly related to specific WMH spatial distribution patterns in a large IS cohort. KEY POINTS: • An observational study of WMH in a large IS cohort was assessed by a modified visual evaluation. • Different CVRF profiles were significantly related to specific WMH spatial distribution patterns. • Distinct WMH anatomical patterns could be related to different pathophysiological mechanisms.

Misdiagnosis Worsens Prognosis in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage With Good Hunt and Hess Score.

Background and Purpose- Our aim was to describe variables associated with initial misdiagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We also analyzed the relationship of misdiagnosis with poor outcome and complications in good Hunt and Hess (HH) cases. Methods- In a prospective cohort of 401 patients with SAH, misdiagnosis was defined as failure to correctly identify, at first physician contact, a subsequently documented SAH; this meant no urgent radiological study and lumbar puncture was performed. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score 3 to 6 at 3-month follow-up. We recorded age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, previous antithrombotic treatment, initial HH and radiological severity, presence of aneurysm, first therapeutic procedure, hydrocephalus, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), rebleeding, and procedure-related complications. Results- Misdiagnosis was confirmed in 104/401 (25.9%) patients, who also had a longer time-to-admission to hospital. Misdiagnosis was associated with less clinical and radiological severity, compared with a correct diagnosis; the 2 groups did not differ in age or cardiovascular risk factor profile. Poor outcome was registered in 167/401 patients (41.6%). Age, misdiagnosis, and greater clinical and radiological initial severity were independent predictors of poor outcome. In the 236 patients (58.8% of cohort) with HH 1-2, misdiagnosis was associated with poor outcome in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively (odds ratio=3.89; 95% CI, 1.89-8.01). Delayed cerebral ischemia (odds ratio=2.47; 95% CI, 1.2-5.09) and procedure-related complications (odds ratio=2.27; 95% CI, 1.07-4.82) were independently associated with misdiagnosis. Conclusions- Misdiagnosis is an unresolved problem in SAH, and it is a missed opportunity for good outcome in patients with HH 1-2. The poor outcome is partially explained by a higher risk of delayed cerebral ischemia and procedure-related complications in misdiagnosed patients. There is a need to improve the diagnostic strategy in patients reporting only a headache (HH 1-2) after SAH.

Stroke-associated pneumonia according to mCDC criteria: impact on prognosis and antibiotic therapy.

Objective: The modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (mCDC) criteria have been proposed for diagnosing and managing stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). The objective was to investigate the impact of SAP on stroke outcome depending on whether or not it conforms to mCDC criteria. Our secondary objective was to identify the responsible factors for antibiotic initiation in stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study of ischemic stroke patients with moderate to severe stroke (NIHSS≥4) admitted within 24 h. For 7 days, mCDC criteria were assessed daily, and infections and antibiotics were recorded. Pneumonias were divided into those fulfilling mCDC criteria (mCDC-SAP) or not (other pneumonias, OPn). The effect of each type of pneumonia on 3-month outcome was evaluated in separated logistic regression models. Factors associated with antibiotic initiation were explored using a random forest analysis. Results: Of the 342 patients studied, infections were diagnosed in 72 (21.6%), including 39 (11.7%) cases of pneumonia. Of them, 25 (7.5%) fulfilled mCDC criteria. Antibiotics were used in 92% of mCDC-SAP and 64.3% of OPn. In logistic regression analysis, mCDC-SAP, but not OPn, was an independent predictor of poor outcome [OR, 4.939 (1.022-23.868)]. The random forest analysis revealed that fever had the highest importance for antibiotic initiation. Interpretation: The mCDC criteria might be useful for detecting clinically relevant SAP, which is associated with poor outcomes. Isolated signs of infection were more important for antibiotic initiation than compliance with pre-defined criteria. Therefore, adherence to mCDC criteria might result in antibiotic saving without compromising clinical outcome.

NT-proBNP, cerebral small vessel disease and cardiac function in patients with a recent lacunar infarct.

NT-proBNP is produced from both atria and ventricles and it is increased in patients with cardiac disease. NT-proBNP is also associated with cerebral small vessel disease(cSVD) but there are no studies that had carried out a systematic evaluation of cardiac function in this specific setting. We conducted a prospective observational study in 100 patients within 30 days after a recent lacunar infarct by means of brain MRI, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, transthoracic echocardiography, and plasmatic NT-proBNP. Global cSVD burden was quantified using a validated visual score (0 to 4) and dichotomized into 2 groups (0-2 or 3-4). Age (73.8 vs 63.5 years) and NT-proBNP (156 vs 76 pg/ml) were increased in patients with SVD 3-4, while daytime augmentation index normalized for the heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx75) (22.5 vs 25.6%) was decreased. The proportion of patients with left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy, or septal e' velocity <7 cm/s was not different between both groups. NT-proBNP was increased in patients with left atrial enlargement (126 vs 88 pg/ml). In multivariate analysis, age (OR 1.129 CI 95% 1.054-1.209), daytime AIx75 (OR 0.91 CI 95% 0.84-0.987,) and NT-proBNP (OR 1.007 CI 95% 1.001-1.012,) were independently associated with cSVD score 3-4. In conclusion, as well as in other patients with cSVD we found an association between NT-proBNP and cSVD. This association was independent of cardiac function.

Long-Term Stroke Recurrence after Transient Ischemic Attack: Implications of Etiology.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To analyze long-term stroke recurrence (SR) characteristics after transient ischemic attack (TIA) according to initial etiological classification. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 706 TIA patients was followed up in a single tertiary stroke center. Endpoint was SR. Etiologic subgroup was determined according to the evidence-based causative classification system. Location of TIA and SR was recorded as right, left, or posterior territory. Disability stroke recurrence (DSR) was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score >1 or a onepoint increase in those with previous mRS >1 at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: During a follow-up of 3,493 patient-years (mean follow-up of 58.9±35.9 months), total SR was 125 (17.7%), corresponding to 3.6 recurrences per 100 patient-years. The etiology subgroups with a higher risk of SR were the unclassified (more than one cause) and large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) categories. Of the SR cases, 88 (70.4%) had the same etiology as the index TIA; again, LAA etiology was the most frequent (83.9%). Notably, cardioaortic embolism was the most frequent cause (62.5%) of SR in the subgroup of 24 patients with undetermined TIA. Overall, SR occurred in the same territory in 74 of 125 patients (59.2%), with significant differences between etiological TIA subgroups (P=0.015). Eighty-two of 125 (65.6%) with SR had DSR, without differences between etiologies (P=0.453). CONCLUSIONS: SR occurred mainly with the same etiology and location as initial TIA, although undetermined TIA was associated with a high proportion of cardioaortic embolism SR. More than half of the recurrences caused some disability, regardless of etiology.