Genetic and lifestyle predictors of ischemic stroke severity and outcome

Association between serum triglycerides and stroke type, severity, and prognosis. Analysis in 6558 patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Hypertriglyceridemia (HT) may increase the risk of stroke. Limited studies have shown that stroke severity and infarction size are smaller in patients with HT. We explored the relationship between triglyceride levels and stroke risk factors, severity and outcome in a large prospective database.

DESIGN

Prospective Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

We retrospectively interrogated the Qatar Stroke Database in all patients admitted between 2014-2022 with acute ischemic stroke and evaluated the relationship between triglyceride, diabetes, stroke severity (measured on NIHSS), stroke type (TOAST classification) and the short- (mRS at 90 days) and long-term outcomes (MACE at 1 year) in patients with HT.

PARTICIPANTS

Six thousand five hundred fifty-eight patients ≥20 years were included in this study RESULTS: Six thousand five hundred fifty-eight patients with ischemic stroke [mean age 54.6 ± 12. 9; male 82.1%) were included. Triglyceride levels upon admission were low-normal (≤1.1 mmol/L) in 2019 patients, high-normal (1.2-1.7 mmol/L) in 2142 patients, borderline-high (1.8-2.2 mmol/L) in 1072 patients and high (≥2.3 mmol/L) in 1325 patients. Higher triglyceride levels were associated with stroke and increased likelihood of having diabetes, obesity, active smoking, and small vessel/lacunar stroke type. An inverse relationship was noted whereby higher triglyceride levels were associated with lower stroke severity and reduced likelihood of poorer outcome (mRS 3-6) at discharge and 90 days. Long-term MACE events were less frequent in patients with higher triglyceride levels. After adjusting age, gender, diabetes, prior stroke, CAD, and obesity, multivariate analysis showed that hypertension and triglyceride levels were higher in mild ischemic strokes patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing triglycerides are associated with higher risk of small vessel disease and requires further prospective cohort studies for confirmation.

Neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, a novel risk factor associated with acute ischemic stroke

To investigate the relationship between neutrophil to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR) and Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), and provide a new direction for the diagnosis and prevention of AIS. A total of 158 patients with AIS and 162 healthy individuals were recruited. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of participants were obtained and the multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to assess risk factors for AIS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of NHR for AIS. The spearman correlation analysis was used to estimate the correlation between NHR and national institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) score. The age, White blood cell, MONO (monocyte), NEUT (neutrophil), creatinine, TG (triglyceride), NHR, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and MONO to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were remarkably greater and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) was dramatically lower in the case group compared with in the control group (P < .05). The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that age [OR = 1.095, 95% CI (1.056, 1.135)], TG [OR = 6.188, 95% CI (2.900, 13.206)] and NHR [OR = 11.394, 95% CI (1.196, 108.585)] were independent risk factors for AIS (P < .05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) for the prediction of AIS by the age, TG and NHR were 0.694, 0.686, 0.782, respectively, the specificity were 56.8%, 88.3%, 87.0%, and the sensitivity were 75.3%, 44.3%, 56.3%, respectively (P < .05). In addition, spearman correlation analysis indicated that there was a positive correlation between NHR and NIHSS score (R = 0.558, P < .05). The level of NHR was higher in patients with a NIHSS score of above 5 points compared with those with a NIHSS score of 5 points or lower (P < .0001). The age, TG, and NHR were independent risk factors for AIS, and the level of NHR was positively correlated with severity of AIS.

Hypertriglyceridemia: A Neglected Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke?

Hypertriglyceridemia is caused by defects in triglyceride metabolism and generally manifests as abnormally high plasma triglyceride levels. Although the role of hypertriglyceridemia may not draw as much attention as that of plasma cholesterol in stroke, plasma triglycerides, especially nonfasting triglycerides, are thought to be correlated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Hypertriglyceridemia may increase the risk of ischemic stroke by promoting atherosclerosis and thrombosis and increasing blood viscosity. Moreover, hypertriglyceridemia may have some protective effects in patients who have already suffered a stroke via unclear mechanisms. Therefore, further studies are needed to elucidate the role of hypertriglyceridemia in the development and prognosis of ischemic stroke.