Midday Dipping and Circadian Blood Pressure Patterns in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the alterations in blood pressure (BP) during midday and the changes in circadian BP patterns in the acute phase of ischemic stroke (AIS) with the severity of stroke and their predictive role outcomes within 3 months. A total of 228 AIS patients (a prospective multicenter follow-up study) underwent 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Mean BP parameters during the day (7:00-22:59), the midday (13:00-16:59), and the night (23:00-6:59), and midday and nocturnal dipping were calculated. Midday SBP dippers had less severe stroke, lower incidence of hypertension and SBP/DBP on admission, lower levels of serum glucose and WBCs, and delayed initiation of ABPM compared to risers. There was a reverse relation between midday SBP dipping and both nocturnal dipping and stroke severity. The "double dippers" (midday and nocturnal dipping) had the least severe stroke, the lowest SBP/DBP on admission, the lowest heart rate from ABPM, and a lower risk of an unfavorable outcome, while the "double risers" had the opposite results, by an approximately five-fold risk of death/disability at 3 months. These findings indicate different circadian BP patterns during the acute phase of AIS, which could be considered a marker of stroke severity and prognosis.

Prognostic significance of 24-h blood pressure and variability indices in the outcome of acute ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The association between blood pressure (BP) levels and BP variability (BPV) following acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and outcome remains controversial. AIMS: To investigate the predictive value of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and BPV measured using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) methods during AIS regarding outcome. METHODS: A total of 228 AIS patients (175 without prior disability) underwent ABPM every 20 min within 48 h from onset using an automated oscillometric device (TM 2430, A&D Company Ltd) during day time (7:00-22:59) and night time (23:00-6:59). Risk factors, stroke subtypes, clinical and laboratory findings were recorded. Mean BP parameters and several BPV indices were calculated. End-points were death and unfavourable functional outcome (disability/death) at 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 61 (26.7%) patients eventually died. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that only mean night-time DBP (hazard ratio (HR): 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.07) was an independent prognostic factor of death. Of the 175 patients without prior disability, 79 (45.1%) finally met the end-point of unfavourable functional outcome. Mean 24-h SBP (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05), day-time SBP (HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.05) and night-time SBP (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05), SBP nocturnal decline (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88-0.99), mean 24-h DBP (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03-1.13), day-time DBP (HR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12) and night-time DBP (HR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) were independent prognostic factors of an unfavourable functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with BPV indices, ABPM-derived BP levels and lower or absence of BP nocturnal decline in the acute phase are prognostic factors of outcome in AIS patients.

Time of blood pressure in target range in acute ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of blood pressure (BP) time-in-target range (TTR) derived from 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) during the acute phase of ischemic stroke (AIS), with the severity of stroke and its predictive value for the 3 months outcome. METHODS: A total of 228 AIS patients (prospective multicenter follow-up study) underwent ABPM every 20 min within 48 h from stroke onset using an automated oscillometric device. Clinical and laboratory findings were recorded. Mean BP parameters, BP variability and TTR for SBP (90-140 mmHg), DBP (60-90 mmHg), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were calculated. Endpoints were death and disability/death at 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 14 942 BP measurements were recorded (∼66 per AIS patient) within 72 h of stroke onset. Patient's 24-h TTR was 34.7 ±â€Š29.9, 64.3 ±â€Š24.2, and 55.3 ±â€Š29.4% for SBP, DBP and MAP, respectively. In patients without prior hypertension, TTR was lower as stroke severity increased for both DBP (P = 0.031) and MAP (P = 0.016). In 175 patients without prior disability, increase in TTR of DBP and MAP associated significantly with a decreased risk of disability/death (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = 0.007 and hazard ratio 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-0.99, P = 0.007). TTR of SBP in 130-180 mmHg and 110-160 mmHg ranges seems to be related with mortality and disability outcomes, respectively. CONCLUSION: TTR can be included for a more detailed description of BP course, according to stroke severity, and for the evaluation of BP predictive role, in addition to mean BP values, derived from ABPM during the acute phase of AIS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATIONURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01915862.

Poor stroke risk perception despite moderate public stroke awareness: insight from a cross-sectional national survey in Greece.

BACKGROUND: Although stroke is the fourth cause of death in Western societies, public stroke awareness remains suboptimal. The aim of this study was to estimate stroke risk perception and stroke awareness in Greece through a cross-sectional telephone survey. METHODS: A trained interview team conducted this cross-sectional telephone survey between February and April 2014 using an online structured questionnaire. Participants were selected using random digit dialing of landline and mobile telephone numbers with quota sampling weighted for geographical region based on the most recent General Population Census (2011). RESULTS: Between February and April 2014, 723 individuals (418 women [58%], 47.4 ± 17.8 years) agreed to respond. Among all respondents, 642 (88.8%) were able to provide at least 1 stroke risk factor; 673 respondents (93.08%) were able to provide correctly at least 1 stroke symptom or sign. When asked what would they do in case of acute onset of stroke symptoms, 497 (68.7%) responded that they would either call the ambulance or visit the closest emergency department. Only 35.3%, 18.9%, 17.2%, 20.7%, and 15.0% of respondents with atrial fibrillation, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and current smoking, respectively, considered themselves as being in high risk for stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke risk perception in Greece is low despite moderate public stroke awareness.