Later Midline Shift Is Associated with Better Outcomes after Large Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke.

Background/Objective: Space occupying cerebral edema is the most feared early complication after large ischemic stroke, occurring in up to 30% of patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and is reported to peak 2-4 days after injury. Little is known about the factors and outcomes associated with peak edema timing, especially when it occurs after 96 hours. We aimed to characterize differences between patients who experienced maximum midline shift (MLS) or decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) in the acute (<48 hours), average (48-96 hours), and subacute (>96 hours) groups and determine whether patients with subacute peak edema timing have improved discharge dispositions. Methods: We performed a two-center, retrospective study of patients with ≥1/2 MCA territory infarct and MLS. We constructed a multivariable model to test the association of subacute peak edema and favorable discharge disposition, adjusting for age, admission Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), acute thrombolytic intervention, cerebral atrophy, maximum MLS, parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation, DHC, and osmotic therapy receipt. Results: Of 321 eligible patients with MLS, 32%, 36%, and 32% experienced acute, average, and subacute peak edema. Subacute peak edema was significantly associated with higher odds of favorable discharge than non-subacute swelling, adjusting for confounders (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.05-3.31). Conclusions: Subacute peak edema after large MCA stroke is associated with better discharge disposition compared to earlier peak edema courses. Understanding how the timing of cerebral edema affects risk of unfavorable discharge has important implications for treatment decisions and prognostication.

Association of large core middle cerebral artery stroke and hemorrhagic transformation with hospitalization outcomes.

Historically, investigators have not differentiated between patients with and without hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in large core ischemic stroke at risk for life-threatening mass effect (LTME) from cerebral edema. Our objective was to determine whether LTME occurs faster in those with HT compared to those without. We conducted a two-center retrospective study of patients with ≥ 1/2 MCA territory infarct between 2006 and 2021. We tested the association of time-to-LTME and HT subtype (parenchymal, petechial) using Cox regression, controlling for age, mean arterial pressure, glucose, tissue plasminogen activator, mechanical thrombectomy, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, antiplatelets, anticoagulation, temperature, and stroke side. Secondary and exploratory outcomes included mass effect-related death, all-cause death, disposition, and decompressive hemicraniectomy. Of 840 patients, 358 (42.6%) had no HT, 403 (48.0%) patients had petechial HT, and 79 (9.4%) patients had parenchymal HT. LTME occurred in 317 (37.7%) and 100 (11.9%) had mass effect-related deaths. Parenchymal (HR 8.24, 95% CI 5.46-12.42, p < 0.01) and petechial HT (HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.92-3.17, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with time-to-LTME and mass effect-related death. Understanding different risk factors and sequelae of mass effect with and without HT is critical for informed clinical decisions.

Relative likelihood ratios for neutral comparisons of statistical tests in simulation studies.

When comparing the performance of two or more competing tests, simulation studies commonly focus on statistical power. However, if the size of the tests being compared are either different from one another or from the nominal size, comparing tests based on power alone may be misleading. By analogy with diagnostic accuracy studies, we introduce relative positive and negative likelihood ratios to factor in both power and size in the comparison of multiple tests. We derive sample size formulas for a comparative simulation study. As an example, we compared the performance of six statistical tests for small-study effects in meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials: Begg's rank correlation, Egger's regression, Schwarzer's method for sparse data, the trim-and-fill method, the arcsine-Thompson test, and Lin and Chu's combined test. We illustrate that comparing power alone, or power adjusted or penalized for size, can be misleading, and how the proposed likelihood ratio approach enables accurate comparison of the trade-off between power and size between competing tests.

Dynamic trajectories of life-threatening mass effect in patients with large middle cerebral artery stroke.

Background: Life-threatening, space-occupying mass effect due to cerebral edema and/or hemorrhagic transformation is an early complication of patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. Little is known about longitudinal trajectories of laboratory and vital signs leading up to radiographic and clinical deterioration related to this mass effect. Methods: We curated a granular retrospective dataset of 635 patients with large middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke totaling 108,547 data points for repeated measurements of 10 covariates, and 40 time-independent covariates. We assessed longitudinal trajectories of the 10 longitudinal variables during the 72 hours preceding three outcomes representative of life-threatening mass effect: midline shift (MLS) ≥5mm, pineal gland shift (PGS) >4mm, and decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC). We used a "backward looking" trajectory approach. Patients were aligned according to the time of outcome occurrence and the trajectory of each variable was assessed prior to that outcome by accounting for both cases and non-cases. Results: Of 635 patients, 49% were female, and mean age was 69 years. Thirty five percent of patients had MLS ≥ 5mm, 24.1% had PGS >4mm, and DHC occurred in 10.7%. For the three outcomes of interest, backward-looking trajectories showed mild increases in white blood cell count (10 up to 11 K/UL within 72 hours), temperature (up to half a degree within 24 hours), and sodium (1-3 mEq/L within 24 hours) leading up to outcomes. We also observed a decrease in heart rate (75 - 65 beats per minute) 24 hours prior to DHC. Conclusions: Univariable longitudinal profiling showed that temperature, white blood cell count, and sodium increase prior to radiographic and clinical indicators of space-occupying mass effect. These findings will inform development of multivariable dynamic risk models to aid prediction of life-threatening space-occupying mass effect.

Predictive Accuracy of a Clinical and Genetic Risk Model for Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) risk estimation using clinical factors with or without genetic information may identify AF screening candidates more accurately than the guideline-based age threshold of ≥65 years. METHODS: We analyzed 4 samples across the United States and Europe (derivation: UK Biobank; validation: FINRISK, Geisinger MyCode Initiative, and Framingham Heart Study). We estimated AF risk using the CHARGE-AF (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology AF) score and a combination of CHARGE-AF and a 1168-variant polygenic score (Predict-AF). We compared the utility of age, CHARGE-AF, and Predict-AF for predicting 5-year AF by quantifying discrimination and calibration. RESULTS: Among 543 093 individuals, 8940 developed AF within 5 years. In the validation sets, CHARGE-AF (C index range, 0.720-0.824) and Predict-AF (0.749-0.831) had largely comparable discrimination, both favorable to continuous age (0.675-0.801). Calibration was similar using CHARGE-AF (slope range, 0.67-0.87) and Predict-AF (0.65-0.83). Net reclassification improvement using Predict-AF versus CHARGE-AF was modest (net reclassification improvement range, 0.024-0.057) but more favorable among individuals aged <65 years (0.062-0.11). Using Predict-AF among 99 530 individuals aged ≥65 years across each sample, 70 849 had AF risk <5%, of whom 69 067 (97.5%) did not develop AF, whereas 28 681 had AF risk ≥5%, of whom 2264 (7.9%) developed AF. Of 11 379 individuals aged <65 years with AF risk ≥5%, 435 (3.8%) developed AF before age 65 years, with roughly half (46.9%) meeting anticoagulation criteria. CONCLUSIONS: AF risk estimation using clinical factors may prioritize individuals for AF screening more precisely than the age threshold endorsed in current guidelines. The additional value of genetic predisposition is modest but greatest among younger individuals.

Temporal trends in cause-specific mortality among individuals with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in the Framingham Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: All-cause mortality following atrial fibrillation (AF) has decreased over time. Data regarding temporal trends in causes of death among individuals with AF are scarce. The aim of our study was to analyze temporal trends in cause-specific mortality and predictors for cardiovascular (CVD) and non-CVD deaths among participants with incident AF in the Framingham Heart Study. METHODS: We categorized all newly diagnosed AF cases according to age at AF diagnosis (< 70, 70 to < 80, and ≥ 80 years) and epoch of AF diagnosis (< 1990, 1990-2002, and ≥ 2003). We followed participants until death or the last follow-up. We categorized death causes into CVD, non-CVD, and unknown causes. For each age group, we tested for trends in the cumulative incidence of cause-specific death across epochs. We fit multivariable Fine-Gray models to assess subdistribution hazard ratios (HR) between clinical risk factors at AF diagnosis and cause-specific mortality. RESULTS: We included 2125 newly diagnosed AF cases (mean age 75.5 years, 47.8% women). During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, 1657 individuals with AF died. There was evidence of decreasing CVD mortality among AF cases diagnosed < 70 years and 70 to < 80 years (ptrend < 0.001) but not ≥ 80 years (p = 0.76). Among the cases diagnosed < 70 years, the cumulative incidence of CVD death at 75 years was 67.7% in epoch 1 and 13.9% in epoch 3; among those 70 to < 80 years, the incidence at 85 years was 58.9% in epoch 1 and 18.9% in epoch 3. Advancing age (HR per 1 SD increase 6.33, 95% CI 5.44 to 7.37), prior heart failure (HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.14-1.94), and prior myocardial infarction (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.15-1.80) were associated with increased rate of CVD death. CONCLUSIONS: In this community-based cohort, CVD mortality among AF cases decreased over time. Most deaths in individuals with AF are no longer CVD-related, regardless of age at AF diagnosis.

Trends in excess mortality associated with atrial fibrillation over 45 years (Framingham Heart Study): community based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess temporal trends in the association between newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and death. DESIGN: Community based cohort study. SETTING: Framingham Heart Study cohort, in 1972-85, 1986-2000, and 2001-15 (periods 1-3, respectively), in Framingham, MA, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants with no atrial fibrillation, aged 45-95 in each time period, and identified with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (or atrial flutter) during each time period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome was all cause mortality. Hazard ratios for the association between time varying atrial fibrillation and all cause mortality were calculated with adjustment for time varying confounding factors. The difference in restricted mean survival times, adjusted for confounders, between participants with atrial fibrillation and matched referents at 10 years after a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation was estimated. Meta-regression was used to test for linear trends in hazard ratios and restricted mean survival times over the different time periods. RESULTS: 5671 participants were selected in time period 1, 6177 in period 2, and 6174 in period 3. Adjusted hazard ratios for all cause mortality between participants with and without atrial fibrillation were 1.9 (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 2.2) in time period 1, 1.4 (1.3 to 1.6) in period 2, and 1.7 (1.5 to 2.0) in period 3 (Ptrend=0.70). Ten years after diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, the adjusted difference in restricted mean survival times between participants with atrial fibrillation and matched referents decreased by 31%, from -2.9 years (95% confidence interval -3.2 to -2.5) in period 1, to -2.1 years (-2.4 to -1.8) in period 2, to -2.0 years (-2.3 to -1.7) in period 3 (Ptrend=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: No evidence of a temporal trend in hazard ratios for the association between atrial fibrillation and all cause mortality was found. The mean number of life years lost to atrial fibrillation at 10 years had improved significantly, but a two year gap compared with individuals without atrial fibrillation still remained.

Atrial Fibrillation and the Risk of Subsequent Fracture.

BACKGROUND: There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between atrial fibrillation and the risk of subsequent fractures. METHODS: We included participants aged 45 years or older from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring, Third-Generation, New Offspring Spouse, Omni 1, and Omni 2 cohorts. We prespecified analyzing index age 65 years as our primary analysis; we repeated analyses for index ages 45, 55, and 75 years. The primary outcome was any incident bone fracture, except finger, toe, foot, skull, and facial fractures. We assessed the association between time-varying atrial fibrillation and subsequent fractures by an illness-death model that accounted for the competing risk of death. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, alcohol intake, and prior fracture. RESULTS: We included 3403 participants (mean age of 68 years, 53.3% female) in the analysis at index age 65 years and above. In all, 525 (15%) participants suffered incident fractures during follow-up (median 12.5 years). The HR between atrial fibrillation and subsequent fracture was 1.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.79. There was no evidence of effect modification by sex (HR 1.55; 95% CI, 1.06-2.26 in men; HR 1.22; 95% CI, 0.84-1.77 in women; interaction P value .27). Results were consistent at other index ages. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation was associated with increased risk of incident fracture in the community-based Framingham Heart Study.

Refining the Association Between Body Mass Index and Atrial Fibrillation: G-Formula and Restricted Mean Survival Times.

Background Previous studies assessing the association between body mass index (BMI) and atrial fibrillation (AF) did not account for time-varying covariates, which may be affected by previous BMI. We illustrate how the g-formula can account for time-varying confounding. Methods and Results We included 4392 participants from the Framingham Heart Study who were AF free at ages 45 to 55 years, and followed them for up to 20 years. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) comparing time-varying nonobese versus obese with Cox models. We used the g-formula to compare nonobese versus obese and 10% annual decrease in BMI (until normal weight is reached) versus natural course. We estimated HRs and differences in restricted mean survival times, the mean difference in time alive and AF free. We adjusted for sex, age, and time-varying risk factors. Cox models indicated that nonobese participants had a decreased rate of AF versus obese participants (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.72-0.97). G-formula analyses comparing everyone had they been nonobese versus obese yielded stronger associations (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58-0.91). The restricted mean survival time was 19.22 years had everyone been nonobese and 19.03 years had everyone been obese (difference, 2.25 months; 95% CI, -0.66 to 5.16). When assessing a 10% annual decrease in BMI, the association was weaker (HR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.86-1.08). Conclusions Decreased BMI was associated with a lower rate of AF after accounting for time-varying covariates that depend on previous exposure using the g-formula, which Cox models cannot accommodate. Absolute measures like the restricted mean survival time difference offer context to relative measures of association.