A comprehensive comparison of machine learning models for ICH prognostication: Retrospective review of 1501 intra-cerebral hemorrhage patients from the Qatar stroke database.

Multiple prognostic scores have been developed to predict morbidity and mortality in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH). Since the advent of machine learning(ML), different ML models have also been developed for sICH prognostication. There is however a need to verify the validity of these ML models in diverse patient populations. We aim to create machine learning models for prognostication purposes in the Qatari population. By incorporating inpatient variables into model development, we aim to leverage more information. 1501 consecutive patients with acute sICH admitted to Hamad General Hospital(HGH) between 2013 and 2023 were included. We trained, evaluated, and compared several ML models to predict 90-day mortality and functional outcomes. For our dataset, we randomly selected 80% patients for model training and 20% for validation and used k-fold cross validation to train our models. The ML workflow included imbalanced class correction and dimensionality reduction in order to evaluate the effect of each. Evaluation metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, F-1 score were calculated for each prognostic model. Mean age was 50.8(SD 13.1) years and 1257(83.7%) were male. Median ICH volume was 7.5 ml(IQR 12.6). 222(14.8%) died while 897(59.7%) achieved good functional outcome at 90 days. For 90-day mortality, random forest(RF) achieved highest AUC(0.906) whereas for 90-day functional outcomes, logistic regression(LR) achieved highest AUC(0.888). Ensembling provided similar results to the best performing models, namely RF and LR, obtaining an AUC of 0.904 for mortality and 0.883 for functional outcomes. Random Forest achieved the highest AUC for 90-day mortality, and LR achieved the highest AUC for 90-day functional outcomes. Comparing ML models, there is minimal difference between their performance. By creating an ensemble of our best performing individual models we maintained maximum accuracy and decreased variance of functional outcome and mortality prediction when compared with individual models.

Stroke Death Rates Among Adults Ages 45-64 by Region and Race and Hispanic Origin: United States, 2002-2022.

Introduction: This Data Brief presents trends in stroke death rates among people ages 45-64, in total and by sex, for 2002 to 2022. Trends are also presented for men and women by region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West) from 2002 to 2022. For 2022, stroke death rates are presented for men and women by race and Hispanic origin within each region. Methods: Mortality data for 2002-2017 are from the National Center for Health Statistics' 1999-2020 Underlying Cause of Death by Bridged-Race Categories and data for 2018-2022 are from the 2018-2022 Underlying Cause of Death by Single-Race Categories. Stroke deaths are for people ages 45-64 and are identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes I60-I69. The four regions of the United States are: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. The four race and Hispanic-origin groups in this report are: Asian non-Hispanic; Black non-Hispanic; White non-Hispanic, and Hispanic. These groups had at least 20 stroke deaths among men and women in all regions to compute reliable rates. Line trends were evaluated using the National Cancer Institute's Joinpoint Regression Program. Pairwise comparisons were tested using the z test statistic at p < 0.05. Key findings: After declines between 2002 and 2012, stroke death rates for adults ages 45-64 increased 7% between 2012 (20.2 per 100,000) and 2019 (21.7) and an additional 12% through 2021 (24.4). Throughout the period, the highest stroke death rates for both men and women were in the South and the lowest were in the Northeast. In each region, differences in stroke death rates by race and Hispanic origin were seen, as Black men and women had rates that were at least twice those of all other groups.

Factors associated with 90-day mortality in Vietnamese stroke patients: Prospective findings compared with explainable machine learning, multicenter study.

The prevalence and predictors of mortality following an ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage have not been well established among patients in Vietnam. 2885 consecutive diagnosed patients with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage at ten stroke centres across Vietnam were involved in this prospective study. Posthoc analyses were performed in 2209 subjects (age was 65.4 ± 13.7 years, with 61.4% being male) to explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors associated with 90-day mortality following treatment. An explainable machine learning model using extreme gradient boosting and SHapley Additive exPlanations revealed the correlation between original clinical research and advanced machine learning methods in stroke care. In the 90 days following treatment, the mortality rate for ischemic stroke was 8.2%, while for intracerebral hemorrhage, it was higher at 20.5%. Atrial fibrillation was an elevated risk of 90-day mortality in the ischemic stroke patient (OR 3.09; 95% CI 1.90-5.02, p<0.001). Among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, there was no statistical significance in those with hypertension compared to their counterparts without hypertension (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.41-1.03, p > 0.05). The baseline NIHSS score was a significant predictor of 90-day mortality in both patient groups. The machine learning model can predict a 0.91 accuracy prediction of death rate after 90 days. Age and NIHSS score were in the top high risks with other features, such as consciousness, heart rate, and white blood cells. Stroke severity, as measured by the NIHSS, was identified as a predictor of mortality at discharge and the 90-day mark in both patient groups.

Association between intensive blood pressure lowering and stroke-free survival among patients with and without Diabetes.

This study pooled data from SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) and ACCORD-BP (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Blood Pressure) trial to estimate the treatment effect of intensive BP on stroke prevention, and investigate whether stroke risk score impacted treatment effect. Of all the potential manifestations of the hypertension, the most severe outcomes were stroke or death. A composite endpoint of time to death or stroke (stroke-free survival [SFS]), whichever occurred first, was defined as the outcome of interest. Participants without prevalent stroke were stratified into stroke risk tertiles based on the predicted revised Framingham Stroke Risk Score. The stratified Cox model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for the intensive BP treatment. 834 (5.92%) patients had SFS events over a median follow-up of 3.68 years. A reduction in the risk for SFS was observed among the intensive BP group as compared with the standard BP group (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.89; risk difference: 0.98([0.20, 1.76]). Further analyses demonstrated the significant benefit of intensive BP treatment on SFS only among participants having a high stroke risk (risk tertile 1: 0.76 [0.52, 1.11], number needed to treat [NNT] = 861; risk tertile 2: 0.87[0.65, 1.16], NNT = 91; risk tertile 3: 0.69[0.56, 0.86], NNT = 50). Intensive BP treatment lowered the risk of SFS, particularly for those at high risk of stroke.

The role of the prognostic nutritional index in predicting mortality in stroke patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the prognostic nutritional index in predicting in-hospital mortality among patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke at the emergency department of the hospital between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023. Demographic data, vital parameters, comorbidities, stroke interventions, and laboratory data were collected from electronic medical records. Prognostic nutritional index was calculated using serum albumin levels and a total lymphocyte count. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: The study included 176 patients, divided into survivor (93.2%, n=164) and deceased (6.8%, n=12) groups. No significant differences were observed in age, gender, blood pressure, heart rate, or body temperature between the groups. Atrial fibrillation was significantly more common in the deceased group (50%) compared to the survivor group (18.9%) (p=0.011). The median lymphocyte count was significantly higher in the survivor group (1,353 [interquartile range, IQR 984-1,968]/mm³) compared to the deceased group (660 [IQR 462-1,188]/mm³) (p=0.009). The median albumin level was significantly lower in the deceased group (3.31 [IQR 2.67-3.4] g/dL) compared to the survivor group (3.74 [IQR 3.39-4.21] g/dL) (p<0.001). The median prognostic nutritional index was significantly higher in the survivor group (46.05 [IQR 39.1-51.3]) compared to the deceased group (36.7 [IQR 28.7-40.5]) (p<0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic for prognostic nutritional index predicting mortality was 0.791 (95%CI 0.723-0.848) (p=0.0002), with a cut-off value of ≤41.92 providing the highest diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic nutritional index is a valuable prognostic indicator for in-hospital mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients. Low prognostic nutritional index values are associated with increased mortality risk. Incorporating prognostic nutritional index into clinical practice may aid in the early identification of high-risk patients and the optimization of treatment strategies. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the broader clinical applications of prognostic nutritional index.

The impact of social relationships on the risk of stroke and post-stroke mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The association between poor social relationships and post-stroke mortality remains uncertain, and the evidence regarding the relationship between poor social relationships and the risk of stroke is inconsistent. In this meta-analysis, we aim to elucidate the evidence concerning the risk of stroke and post-stroke mortality among individuals experiencing a poor social relationships, including social isolation, limited social networks, lack of social support, and loneliness. METHODS: A thorough search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases to systematically identify pertinent studies. Data extraction was independently performed by two researchers. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using either a random-effects or fixed-effects model. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the reliability of the results. Random-effects meta-regression was performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity in stroke risk estimates between studies. Assessment for potential publication bias was carried out using Egger's and Begg's tests. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included, originating from 4 continents and 12 countries worldwide. A total of 1,675,707 participants contributed to this meta-analysis. Pooled analyses under the random effect model revealed a significant association between poor social relationships and the risk of stroke (OR = 1.30; 95%CI: 1.17-1.44), as well as increased risks for post-stroke mortality (OR = 1.36; 95%CI: 1.07-1.73). Subgroup analyses demonstrated associations between limited social network (OR = 1.52; 95%CI = 1.04-2.21), loneliness (OR = 1.31; 95%CI = 1.13-1.51), and lack of social support (OR = 1.66; 95%CI = 1.04-2.63) with stroke risk. The meta-regression explained 75.21% of the differences in reported stroke risk between studies. Random-effect meta-regression results indicate that the heterogeneity in the estimated risk of stroke may originate from the continent and publication year of the included studies. CONCLUSION: Social isolation, limited social networks, lack of social support, and feelings of loneliness have emerged as distinct risk factors contributing to both the onset and subsequent mortality following a stroke. It is imperative for public health policies to prioritize the multifaceted influence of social relationships and loneliness in stroke prevention and post-stroke care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered on May 1, 2024, on the Prospero International Prospective System with registration number CRD42024531036.

Hospital overcrowding and care of stroke patients: Irish national audit of stroke.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital overcrowding where patient admissions exceed capacity is associated with worse outcomes in Emergency Department. Developments in emergency stroke care have been associated with improvements in stroke outcome but are dependent on effective, organised care. We examined if overcrowding in the hospital system was associated with negative changes in stroke outcome. METHODS: Data on overcrowding were obtained from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) 'Trolley Count' database recording the number of patients cared for on trolleys/chairs in all acute hospitals each midnight. These were compared with quarterly data from the Irish National Audit of Stroke from 2013 to 2021 inclusive. Variables analysed were inpatient mortality rate, thrombolysis rate for ischaemic stroke, median door to needle time and median length of stay. RESULTS: 579449 patient episodes were recorded by Trolley Watch over the period, (Quarterly Median 16719.5, range 3389-27015). Average Quarterly Thrombolysis rate was 11.3% (sd 1.3%) Median Quarterly Inpatient Mortality rate was 11.8% (Range 8.9-14.0%). Median Quarterly Length of stay was 9 days (8-11 days). Median quarterly door to needle was 65 min (45-80 min). Q1 was typically the worst for overcrowding with on average 19777 incidences (sd 4786). This was significantly higher than for Q2 (mean 13540 (sd 4785) p = 0.005 t-test) and for Q3 (mean 14542 (sd 4753) p = 0.03). No significant correlation was found between quarterly Trolley watch episodes and inpatient mortality (r = 0.084, p = 0.63), median length of stay r=-0.15, p = 0.37) or thrombolysis rate (r = 0.089 p = 0.61). There was an unexpected significant negative correlation between trolley watch data and median door to needle time (r=-0.36, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Despite increasing hospital overcrowding, stroke services still managed to preserve standard of care. We could find no association between levels of overcrowding and deterioration in selected indices of patient care.

Poststroke Cognitive Impairment and the Risk of Recurrent Stroke and Mortality: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) occurs in about 60% of patients with stroke in the first year after stroke. However, the question regarding risks of recurrent stroke and mortality in patients with PSCI remains controversial. The goal of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of published literature to estimate the risks of stroke recurrence and mortality associated with PSCI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Electronic databases were screened for eligible studies published from 1990 to 2023. The primary end points of this study were recurrent stroke and mortality. Pooled estimates were calculated as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs. Meta-regression analyses evaluated moderating effects of PSCI severity, study design, and study period on recurrent stroke and mortality. Pooled data from 27 studies comprised 39 412 patients with ischemic stroke. Nine studies evaluated the association between PSCI and risk of stroke recurrence that showed the hazard of recurrent stroke risk was significantly higher in patients with PSCI compared with those without it (HR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.29-1.94]; I2=52.2%). Eighteen studies examined the impact of PSCI on mortality risk. The pooled hazard of mortality was significantly higher in the group with PSCI relative to the non-PSCI group (HR, 2.07 [95% CI, 1.65 -2.59]; I2=89.3%). Meta-regressions showed that the average effect of PSCI on mortality risk differed across study period and study design. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this meta-analysis PSCI was statistically significantly associated with increased risks of recurrent stroke and all-cause mortality. Poststroke neurocognitive assessment may identify patients at a higher risk who may require more aggressive interventions for secondary prevention.

Cluster-Based White Matter Signatures and the Risk of Dementia, Stroke, and Mortality in Community-Dwelling Adults.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Markers of white matter (WM) injury on brain MRI are important indicators of brain health. Different patterns of WM atrophy, WM hyperintensities (WMHs), and microstructural integrity could reflect distinct pathologies and disease risks, but large-scale imaging studies investigating WM signatures are lacking. This study aims to identify distinct WM signatures using brain MRI in community-dwelling adults, determine underlying risk factor profiles, and assess risks of dementia, stroke, and mortality associated with each signature. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2016, we measured WMH volume, WM volume, fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) using automated pipelines on structural and diffusion MRI in community-dwelling adults aged older than 45 years of the Rotterdam study. Continuous surveillance was conducted for dementia, stroke, and mortality. We applied hierarchical clustering to identify separate WM injury clusters and Cox proportional hazard models to determine their risk of dementia, stroke, and mortality. RESULTS: We included 5,279 participants (mean age 65.0 years, 56.0% women) and identified 4 distinct data-driven WM signatures: (1) above-average microstructural integrity and little WM atrophy and WMH; (2) above-average microstructural integrity and little WMH, but substantial WM atrophy; (3) poor microstructural integrity and substantial WMH, but little WM atrophy; and (4) poor microstructural integrity with substantial WMH and WM atrophy. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds was higher in clusters 3 and 4 than in clusters 1 and 2. During a median 10.7 years of follow-up, 291 participants developed dementia, 220 had a stroke, and 910 died. Compared with cluster 1, dementia risk was increased for all clusters, notably cluster 3 (hazard ratio [HR] 3.06, 95% CI 2.12-4.42), followed by cluster 4 (HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.58-3.37) and cluster 2 (HR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17-2.38). Compared with cluster 1, risk of stroke was higher only for clusters 3 (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.02-2.37) and 4 (HR 1.94, 95% CI 1.30-2.89), whereas mortality risk was increased in all clusters (cluster 2: HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.53, cluster 3: HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.35-2.03, cluster 4: HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.44-2.15), compared with cluster 1. Models including clusters instead of an individual imaging marker showed a superior goodness of fit for dementia and mortality, but not for stroke. DISCUSSION: Clustering can derive WM signatures that are differentially associated with dementia, stroke, and mortality risk. Future research should incorporate spatial information of imaging markers.

Time to death and its determinant factors of stroke patients at Gambella General Hospital, Gambella, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A stroke or a cerebrovascular accident is a common cause of death and a leading cause of long-term, severe disability in both developed and developing countries. The most recent global burden of disease report states that there were 11.9 million new cases of stroke worldwide; stroke accounts for nearly 1 in 8 deaths globally (12%, 6.5 million deaths) and claims a life every 5 s, making it the second most common cause of death worldwide. The goal of the study was to identify the most important factors influencing stroke patients' time to death at Gambella General Hospital. METHODS: Data was gathered from patient files in a hospital using a retrospective study methodology, spanning the period from September 2018 to September 2020. R 3.4.0 statistical software and STATA version 14.2 were used for data entry and analysis. The survival time was compared using the log-rank tests and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The fitness of the Cox proportional hazard model was examined. RESULTS: The final model that was fitted was the log-logistic AFT model. A statistically significant correlation was defined as having a p value of less than 0.05 and the accelerated factor (γ) with its 95% confidence interval was employed. Eight days was the total median death time (95% CI 6-10). Significant predictors for shortened mortality time were age (γ = 0.94; 95% CI (0.0.920-0.980), hypertension (γ = 0.63; 95% CI (0.605-0.660), and baseline complications (γ = 0.24; 95% CI (0.223-0.256). CONCLUSIONS: The shortened timing of death was significantly predicted by age, hypertension, and baseline complications. In light of the study's findings, health administrators and caregivers should work to improve society's overall health.

Accelerated biological aging elevates the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and mortality.

Associations of biological aging with the development and mortality of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) remain unclear. Here we conducted a multistate analysis in 341,159 adults of the UK Biobank. CMM was defined as the coexistence of two or three cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), including type 2 diabetes, ischemic heart disease and stroke. Biological aging was measured using the Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age and PhenoAge algorithms. Over a median follow-up of 8.84 years, biologically older participants demonstrated robust higher risks from first CMD to CMM and then to death. In particular, adjusted hazard ratios for first CMD to CMM and for CMM to death were 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.12, 1.19) and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.17, 1.35) per 1 s.d. increase in PhenoAge acceleration, respectively. Compared with frailty, Framingham Risk Score and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 (SCORE2), biological aging measures yielded consistent substantial associations with CMM development. Accelerated biological aging may help identify individuals with CMM risks, potentially enabling early intervention and subclinical prevention.

Mortality and Disparities of Acute Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in Korea, 2008-2019.

PURPOSE: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke are leading global causes of death and can be used to assess acute care quality. We examined the 30-day mortality trends after emergency department admission for AMI and stroke in Korea from 2008 to 2019, focusing on regional and income disparities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The AMI and stroke patients admitted to hospitals in Korea were collected from the claims data. We analyzed age and sex-standardized 30-day mortality for AMI, as well as hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Disparities in mortality were analyzed using absolute differences and relative ratios between the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) and Korea, and among income levels and regions in Korea. A 12-year joinpoint regression was used to determine the annual percent change and the average annual percent change. RESULTS: The trends in the 30-day AMI mortality of Korea were not significantly changed from 2008 to 2019; the gap remained at 1.2 between the OECD and Korea. Korea maintained lower mortality rates for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke than the mean of OECD. In Korea, the 30-day hemorrhagic stroke mortality showed a constant decreasing trend for the higher-income group living in urban areas; it led to a widened gap based on income levels in urban areas. The 30-day mortality for ischemic stroke tended to decrease in the higher-income group and urban areas. CONCLUSION: National-level intervention is needed to manage regional and income-based disparities in AMI and stroke 30-day mortality. It is important to understand the variance in mortality rate by different geographical regions and income levels to establish an appropriate public health strategy.

Trajectories of Frailty and Clinical Outcomes in Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From the Shizuoka Kokuho Database.

BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of frailty has gained considerable attention due to its profound influence on clinical outcomes. However, our understanding of the progression of frailty and long-term clinical outcomes in older individuals with atrial fibrillation remains scarce. METHODS: Using data from 2012 to 2018 from a comprehensive claims database incorporating primary and hospital care records in Shizuoka, Japan, we selected patients aged ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation who initiated oral anticoagulant therapy. The trajectory of frailty was plotted using Sankey plots, illustrating the annual changes in their frailty according to the electronic frailty index during a 3-year follow-up after oral anticoagulant initiation, along with the incidence of clinical adverse outcomes. For deceased patients, we assessed their frailty status in the year preceding their death. RESULTS: Of 6247 eligible patients (45.1% women; mean age, 79.3±8.0 years) at oral anticoagulant initiation, 7.7% were categorized as fit (electronic frailty index, 0-0.12), 30.1% as mildly frail (>0.12-0.24), 35.4% as moderately frail (>0.24-0.36), and 25.9% as severely frail (>0.36). Over the 3-year follow-up, 10.4% of initially fit patients transitioned to moderately frail or severely frail. Conversely, 12.5% of severely frail patients improved to fit or mildly frail. Death, stroke, and major bleeding occurred in 23.4%, 4.1%, and 2.2% of patients, respectively. Among the mortality cases, 74.8% (N=1183) and 3.5% (N=55) had experienced moderately or severely frail and either a stroke or major bleeding in the year preceding their death, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary era of atrial fibrillation management, a minor fraction of older patients on oral anticoagulants died following a stroke or major bleeding. However, their frailty demonstrated a dynamic trajectory, and a substantial proportion of death was observed after transitioning to a moderately or severely frail state.

Association Between Frequency of Rehabilitation Therapy and Long-Term Mortality After Stroke: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated conflicting results regarding the effects of rehabilitation therapy on poststroke mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between rehabilitation therapy, including both inpatient and outpatient treatment, within the first 6 months after stroke and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with stroke using the Korean National Health Insurance System data. METHODS: A total of 10 974 patients newly diagnosed with stroke using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes (I60-I64) between 2003 and 2019 were enrolled and followed up for all-cause mortality until 2019. Follow-up for mortality began 6 months after the index event. Poststroke patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the frequency of rehabilitation therapy: no rehabilitation therapy, ≤40 sessions and >40 sessions. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the mortality risk according to rehabilitation therapy stratified by disability severity measured based on activities of daily living 6 months after stroke onset. RESULTS: Within 6 months after stroke, 6738 patients (61.4%) did not receive rehabilitation therapy, whereas 2122 (19.3%) received ≤40 sessions and 2114 (19.3%) received >40 sessions of rehabilitation therapy. Higher frequency of rehabilitation therapy was associated with significantly lower poststroke mortality in comparison to no rehabilitation therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.88 [95% CI, 0.79-0.99]), especially among individuals with severe disability after stroke (mild to moderate: HR, 1.02 [95% CI, 0.77-1.35]; severe: HR, 0.74 [95% CI, 0.62-0.87]). In the context of stroke type, higher frequency of rehabilitation therapy was associated with reduced mortality rates compared with no rehabilitation therapy only in patients with hemorrhagic stroke (ischemic: HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.91-1.18]; hemorrhagic: HR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.49-0.74]). CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive association between rehabilitation therapy within 6 months after stroke onset and long-term mortality in patients with stroke. A higher frequency of rehabilitation therapy would be recommended for poststroke patients, especially those with hemorrhagic stroke and severe disability.

In-hospital mortality and its associated factors among hospitalized stroke patients at public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is rapidly developing clinical signs of focal/ global disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting more than 24 h and leading to death. Data showed that stroke deaths in Ethiopia reached nearly seven percent of total deaths. Despite this report, there is a paucity of investigations about the problem. OBJECTIVE: To determine in-hospital mortality and its associated factors among hospitalized stroke patients in Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital and Jugal General Hospital, eastern Ethiopia from September 2016-August 2022 G.C. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among hospitalized stroke patients. A sample size of 395 medical records was selected from a total of 564 stroke patients by a simple random sampling technique. The data was analyzed by SPSS version 26 using bivariable and multivariable cox-regression models. A p-value of 0.05 and less at a 95% confidence interval was used to establish a statistically significant association. RESULTS: Of the total, 109 (27.6%) died in the hospital while 57.2% and 15.2% of them were discharged with improvement and against medical advice, respectively. Age greater than 65 (AHR = 4.71, 95% CI = 1.11-19.96), creatinine level > 1.2 mg/dl (AHR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.0-2.39), and co-morbidity with atrial fibrillation (AHR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.0-2.21) were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: In-hospital mortality was found in more than a quarter of stroke patients. Mortality was more likely increased among the patients with age > 65, serum creatinine level > 1.2 mg/dl, and atrial fibrillation. Hence, these high-risk patients need to be monitored.

Chronic coronary syndromes without standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes: the CLARIFY registry.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It has been reported that patients without standard modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (SMuRFs-diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and smoking) presenting with first myocardial infarction (MI), especially women, have a higher in-hospital mortality than patients with risk factors, and possibly a lower long-term risk provided they survive the post-infarct period. This study aims to explore the long-term outcomes of SMuRF-less patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: CLARIFY is an observational cohort of 32 703 outpatients with stable CAD enrolled between 2009 and 2010 in 45 countries. The baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with and without SMuRFs were compared. The primary outcome was a composite of 5-year CV death or non-fatal MI. Secondary outcomes were 5-year all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-CV death, non-fatal MI, or non-fatal stroke). RESULTS: Among 22 132 patients with complete risk factor and outcome information, 977 (4.4%) were SMuRF-less. Age, sex, and time since CAD diagnosis were similar across groups. SMuRF-less patients had a lower 5-year rate of CV death or non-fatal MI (5.43% [95% CI 4.08-7.19] vs. 7.68% [95% CI 7.30-8.08], P = 0.012), all-cause mortality, and MACE. Similar results were found after adjustments. Clinical event rates increased steadily with the number of SMuRFs. The benefit of SMuRF-less status was particularly pronounced in women. CONCLUSIONS: SMuRF-less patients with stable CAD have a substantial but significantly lower 5-year rate of CV death or non-fatal MI than patients with risk factors. The risk of CV outcomes increases steadily with the number of risk factors.

Association of sleep characteristics with stroke incidence and all-cause mortality: A cross-sectional study in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Stroke represents a significant health crisis in the United States, claiming approximately 140,000 lives annually and ranking as the fifth leading cause of death. OBJECTIVE: Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 2005 to 2008, this study examines the correlation between various sleep characteristics and both stroke morbidity and all-cause mortality among U.S. adults. METHODS: We applied logistic regression, Cox regression, and subgroup analyses to a sample of 7,827 adults aged 18 and older from NHANES 2005-2008. The study focused on six sleep characteristics: duration of sleep, sleep onset latency, snoring frequency, number of awakenings, frequency of leg spasms during sleep, and daytime sleepiness, analyzing their impacts on stroke incidence and mortality rates. RESULTS: Participants had an average age of 45.80 ± 0.45 years, with females accounting for 48.13 % of the sample. Analysis revealed significant associations between sleep duration, onset latency, number of awakenings, leg spasms, and daytime sleepiness with stroke incidence. However, these associations weakened with increasing confounders. Additionally, stroke patients showed a higher likelihood of using sleep aids. The influence of sleep disturbances on stroke appeared more pronounced in females and younger demographics. An association was also noted between the number of awakenings, sleep duration, and stroke mortality rates CONCLUSIONS: The study reinforces the critical role of maintaining healthy sleep patterns in preventing strokes and enhancing stroke prognosis, emphasizing specific sleep disturbances as potential risk factors.

Incidence, Predictors, and Prognostic Impact of Neurologic Events After TAVR According to VARC-3 Criteria.

BACKGROUND: The Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC)-3 definition for neurologic events after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) lacks clinical validation. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the incidence, predictors, and clinical impact of neurologic events following TAVR as defined by VARC-3 criteria. METHODS: This was a multicenter study including 2,924 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Based on Neurologic Academic Research Consortium (NeuroARC) classification, neurologic events were classified as NeuroARC type 1 (stroke), NeuroARC type 2 (covert central nervous system injury), and NeuroARC type 3 (transient ischemic attack and delirium). Baseline, procedural, and follow-up data were prospectively collected in a dedicated database. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 13 (7-37) months, neurologic events occurred in 471 patients (16.1%), NeuroARC type 1, 2, and 3 in 37.4%, 4.7%, and 58.0% of cases, respectively, and the majority (58.6%) were periprocedural. Advanced age, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, major vascular complications, and in-hospital bleeding determined an increased risk of periprocedural events (P < 0.03 for all). Neurologic events occurring during the periprocedural time frame were independently associated with a substantial increase in mortality at 1 year after the intervention (HR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.23-2.97; P = 0.004). However, although NeuroARC type 1 was associated with an increased mortality risk (IRR: 3.38; 95% CI: 2.30-5.56; P < 0.001 and IRR: 21.7; 95% CI: 9.63-49.1; P < 0.001 for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, respectively), the occurrence of NeuroARC type 3 events had no impact on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic events after TAVR were associated with poorer short- and long-term survival. This correlation was related to the type of NeuroARC event defined by the VARC-3 criteria. Given the negative impact on clinical outcomes, every attempt should be made to reduce the risk of neurologic complications after TAVR.

Contribution of Stroke to Long-Term All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in Mexico City.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Stroke mortality is more common in low-income and middle-income nations such as Mexico. Prognosis data typically rely on short-term hospital follow-ups, revealing high mortality rates due to systemic complications and early recurrence. We aim to explore stroke's long-term impact by examining all-cause and cause-specific mortality. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Mexico City Prospective Study (1998-2004) with known mortality outcomes until December 2022. Baseline variables were compared between participants who had stroke and nonstroke participants. Cox proportional hazard regression assessed each variable's contribution to overall mortality. Subsequent analysis within the stroke subgroup aimed to identify unique risk factors of mortality, using Cox regression models adjusted for age, sex, and time since stroke. RESULTS: Among 145,537 eligible participants, 1,492 (1.0%) had a history of stroke. Participants who had stroke were older (57.58 vs 50.16, p < 0.001); had lower mean weekly income ($108.24 vs $176.14, p < 0.001); had higher alcohol intake and smoking frequency; and had more frequent comorbidities such as hypertension (48.9 vs 19.3%, p < 0.001), diabetes (23.4 vs 12.9%, p < 0.001), and ischemic heart disease (5.4 vs 1.0%, p < 0.001). They had a significantly increased risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio [HR] 2.59, 95% CI 2.37-2.83, p < 0.001). Deceased participants with stroke were more likely to be male, with a higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and abnormal waist-hip index. Stroke increased the risk of death from cardiac (HR 3.56, 95% CI 3.02-4.19, p < 0.001), renal (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.58-2.66, p < 0.001), and pulmonary (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.79-2.92, p < 0.001) causes. DISCUSSION: This study confirms stroke's association with higher mortality rates, especially from cardiac, renal, and pulmonary causes in Mexico. It underscores the elevated prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities and adverse socioeconomic profiles among participants who had stroke and those who died with a history of stroke.