Impact of Relative Blood Glucose Changes on Mortality Risk of Patient with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy

Associations of diabetes status and glucose measures with outcomes after endovascular therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke: an analysis of the nationwide TREAT-AIS registry

Background

Hyperglycemia affects the outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study compares the predictive ability of diabetes status and glucose measures on EVT outcomes using nationwide registry data.

Methods

The study included 1,097 AIS patients who underwent EVT from the Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke. The variables analyzed included diabetes status, admission glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), admission glucose-to-HbA1c ratio (GAR), and outcomes such as 90-day poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 2) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH). Multivariable analyses investigated the independent effects of diabetes status and glucose measures on outcomes. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to compare their predictive abilities.

Results

The multivariable analysis showed that individuals with known diabetes had a higher likelihood of poor functional outcomes (odds ratios [ORs] 2.10 to 2.58) and SICH (ORs 3.28 to 4.30) compared to those without diabetes. Higher quartiles of admission glucose and GAR were associated with poor functional outcomes and SICH. Higher quartiles of HbA1c were significantly associated with poor functional outcomes. However, patients in the second HbA1c quartile (5.6-5.8%) showed a non-significant tendency toward good functional outcomes compared to those in the lowest quartile (<5.6%). The ROC analysis indicated that diabetes status and admission glucose had higher predictive abilities for poor functional outcomes, while admission glucose and GAR were better predictors for SICH.

Conclusion

In AIS patients undergoing EVT, diabetes status, admission glucose, and GAR were associated with 90-day poor functional outcomes and SICH. Admission glucose was likely the most suitable glucose measure for predicting outcomes after EVT.

Stress hyperglycemia is associated with futile recanalization in patients with anterior large vessel occlusion undergoing mechanical thrombectomy

INTRODUCTION

Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to anterior large vessel occlusion (LVO). Despite successful recanalization, some patients remain disabled after 3 months. Mechanisms that can cause futile recanalization (FR) are still largely unknown. We investigated if stress hyperglycemia might be associated with FR.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with successful recanalization treated in four participating centers between January 2021 and December 2022. According to the modified Rankin scale (mRS) status at 3 months, patients were divided into two groups: FR, if mRS score >2, and useful recanalization (UR), if mRS score ⩽2. Stress hyperglycemia was estimated by the glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin ratio (GAR) index.

RESULTS

A total of 691 subjects were included. At 3 months, 403 patients (58.3%) were included in the FR group, while the remaining 288 patients (41.7%) were included in the UR group. At the multivariate analysis, variables independently associated with FR were the following: age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06, p < 0.001), GAR index (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.14, p = 0.003), NIHSS at admission (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.11-1.22; p < 0.001), and procedure length (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02; p = 0.009). We observed that the model combining age, GAR index, NIHSS at admission, and procedure length had good predictive accuracy (AUC 0.78, 95% CI 0.74-0.81).

CONCLUSIONS

Stress hyperglycemia predicts FR in patients with successful recanalization after MT. Further studies should explore if managing stress hyperglycemia may reduce futile recanalization. Additionally, we recommend paying close attention to AIS patients with a GAR index greater than 24.8 who exhibit a high risk of FR.

Stress hyperglycemia is associated with poor outcome in critically ill patients with pulmonary hypertension

Background and objective

Stress hyperglycemia is common in critically ill patients and is associated with poor prognosis. Whether this association exists in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients is unknown. The present cohort study investigated the association of stress hyperglycemia with 90-day all-cause mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with PH.

Methods

Data of the study population were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. A new index, the ratio of admission glucose to HbA1c (GAR), was used to evaluate stress hyperglycemia. The study population was divided into groups according to GAR quartiles (Q1-Q4). The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality within 90 days, which was considered a short-term prognosis.

Result

A total of 53,569 patients were screened. Ultimately, 414 PH patients were enrolled; 44.2% were male, and 23.2% were admitted to the cardiac ICU. As the GAR increased from Q2 to Q4, the groups had lower creatinine levels, longer ICU stays, and a higher proportion of renal disease. After adjusting for confounding factors such as demographics, vital signs, and comorbidities, an elevated GAR was associated with an increased risk of 90-day mortality.

Conclusion

Stress hyperglycemia assessed by the GAR was associated with increased 90-day mortality in ICU patients with PH.

Poor Prestroke Glycemic Control Increases the Rate of Symptomatic Intracranial Hemorrhage after Mechanical Thrombectomy

(1) Background: Diabetes is a well-established risk factor for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study evaluated the impact of prestroke glycemic control in diabetic patients on their 3-month clinical outcome after mechanical thrombectomy (MT). (2) Methods: AIS patients with a premorbid modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0-2 who were admitted within 6 h after stroke onset and treated with MT between January 2020 and August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The study evaluated the effect of prestroke glycemic control on the stroke severity, reperfusion rate, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and favorable clinical outcome (modified Rankin scale score 0-2) at 3 months after endovascular treatment. (3) Results: A total of 364 patients were analyzed, with 275 cases of non-diabetes (ND), 66 of well-controlled diabetes (WCD) and 23 of poorly controlled diabetes (PCD). There was no significant difference in the baseline neurological deficit expressed according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale among the three groups. The time from stroke onset to groin puncture was similar in the ND, WCD and PCD groups (median 215 min, 194.5 min and 222.5 min, respectively). There was no significant difference in the favorable 3-month clinical outcomes among these three groups (35.2% of ND patients, 42.4% of WCD patients and 39.1% of PCD patients) or full recovery (12.4% of ND patients, 11.0% of WCD patients and 17.4% of PCD patients). The rate of sICH was significantly higher in the PCD group as compared to the ND and WDP groups (21.7% of PCD patients versus 7.6% of ND patients, p = 0.038, and 6.0% of WCD patients, p = 0.046), but the 3-month mortality did not differ between the three groups (21.8% of ND group, 19.7% of WCD group and 26.1% of PCD group). (4) Conclusions: This study shows that poor prestroke glycemic control in AIS diabetic patients does not change the chance of a good clinical functional outcome after endovascular treatment. However, the increased risk of hemorrhagic complications in this group of patients should be considered.

Stress hyperglycemia increases short-term mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients after mechanical thrombectomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin ratio (GAR) is considered a more reliable marker of stress hyperglycemia by correcting for basal blood glucose levels. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which GAR is associated with 3 month and 1 year all-cause mortalities in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT).

METHODS

We retrospectively followed 553 AIS patients who underwent MT. The degree of stress hyperglycemia was quantified as the GAR, defined as fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L)/hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (%) on the second day after admission. According to the GAR quartiles, the patients were further categorized into four groups (group 1-group 4). We assessed the association between GAR and all-cause mortalities, clinical outcomes during hospitalization and function outcomes at 3 months. The associations between stress hyperglycemia and all-cause mortalities were analyzed using a Cox proportional-hazards model, while other outcomes were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The follow-up lasted a median of 18 months (range 0-66 months). The 3 month mortality rate was 9.58% (n = 53) and the 1 year mortality rate was 18.62% (n = 103). The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between GAR and mortality (P < 0.001). In the Cox proportional-hazards model at 3 months, compared with group1, group 4 of GAR was associated with a significant increase in the risk of 3 month mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41-12.0, P = 0.01) after adjusting for potential covariates. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, GAR was strongly associated with an increased risk of 3 month poor function outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Stress hyperglycemia, quantified by a higher GAR, is associated with all-cause mortality and poor functional outcomes in patients with AIS who undergo MT. Furthermore, GAR may contribute to improving the predictive efficiency of all-cause mortality in patients with AIS after MT, especially short-term all-cause mortality.

The impact of stress hyperglycemia ratio on short-term and long-term outcomes for acute basilar artery occlusion underwent endovascular treatment

BACKGROUND

Stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) reflects a true acute hyperglycemic state during acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO). We aimed to investigate the association between SHR and short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with ABAO receiving endovascular treatment (EVT).

METHODS

We selected patients treated with EVT from the BASILAR study, a nationwide prospective registry. A total 250 patients with documented glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) values at admission were included. SHR was calculated as the ratio of glucose/HbA1C. All 250 patients completed 90 days of follow-up and 234 patients (93.6%) completed 1 year of follow-up. The primary outcome was the favorable outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤ 3 at 90 days. Safety outcomes included mortality at 90 days and 1 year, and intracranial hemorrhage.

RESULTS

Among the 250 patients included, patients with higher tertiles of SHR were associated with decreased odds of a favorable functional outcome at 90 days (adjusted OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.12-0.56; P = 0.001 and adjusted OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18-0.80; P = 0.01; respectively) and 1 year (adjusted OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.16-0.73; P = 0.006 and adjusted OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.18-0.82; P = 0.01; respectively) after adjusting for confounding covariates. The mortality was comparable across tertiles of SHR groups at 90 days and 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that SHR was associated with a decreased probability of favorable functional outcome both at 90 days and 1 year after EVT in patients with ABAO. The relationship was more pronounced in non-diabetes patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR1800014759 (November 12, 2013).

Association of Admission Glucose and Outcomes After Endovascular Treatment for Acute Stroke: Data From the ANGEL-ACT Registry

BACKGROUND

The association between admission glucose levels and clinical outcomes after stroke has not been effectively elucidated. This study assessed the association among admission glucose levels, admission hyperglycemia, diabetes mellitus, and 90-day neurological outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy.

METHODS

The ANGEL-ACT registry enrolled adults with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy between 2017 and 2019 in China and patients with available admission glucose data were included. Restricted cubic spline regression was used to determine the knots of blood glucose levels. Binary or ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the impact of different admission glucose levels on neurological outcomes and 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

In total, 1684 participants with available admission glucose concentrations were evaluated. The admission glucose level was divided into 4 levels according to the restricted cubic spline curves: level 1 (<5.3 mmol/L), level 2 (5.3 to 7.0 mmol/L), level 3 (7.0 to 11.6 mmol/L), and level 4 (≥11.6 mmol/L). Level 4 admission glucose was associated with a decreased incidence of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2 (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40-0.87) and an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.06-2.85). Levels 3 and 4, hyperglycemia, and diabetes mellitus independently predicted symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Admission glucose levels showed J-shaped relationships with sICH.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher admission glucose levels (≥11.6 mmol/L) were associated with a decreased likelihood of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 2 and an increased risk of mortality and sICH.

Incidence of Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this study was to systematically evaluate the incidence of stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Studies that reported SIH incidence in AIS and examined risk factors for SIH and non-SIH patients were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from the inception of each database to December 2021. Article screening and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and meta-analysis was performed using Stata. A total of 13 studies involving 4552 patients (977 in the SIH group and 3575 in the non-SIH group) were included. Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of SIH was 24% (95% CI: 21–27%) in the total population, 33% (14–52%) in North America, 25% (20–29%) in Europe, and 21% (12–29%) in Asia. Subgroup analysis by year of publication revealed that the pooled incidence of SIH was 27% (22–32%) in studies published before 2010 and 19% (14–24%) in those published after 2010. SIH is relatively common in AIS and poses a serious public health problem. Therefore, more emphasis should be placed on the prevention and control of SIH in AIS.

Low stress hyperglycemia ratio predicts worse prognosis in diabetic acute heart failure patients

INTRODUCTION

Acute blood glucose but not glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) predicts poor outcome in acute heart failure (HF). The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) has been proposed as a prognostic predictor in various clinical settings.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the prognostic implications of the SHR in acute HF patients with and without diabetes.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of an acute HF registry conducted between 2009 and 2010. Estimated average glucose (eAG) was calculated as (28.7×HbA1c)-46.7 and SHR as acute blood glucose divided by eAG. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Follow-up was three months. Patients were grouped by SHR tertiles (≤0.88, 0.89-1.16, and >1.16). Cox regression analysis was used to test the association of SHR (cut-off 0.88) with all-cause mortality. Analysis was stratified according to the presence of diabetes. Multivariate models were built accounting for acute blood glucose and for eAG (models 1 and 2, respectively).

RESULTS

We studied 599 patients, mean age 76±12 years, of whom 62.1% had reduced ejection fraction and 50.9% had diabetes. Median acute blood glucose, eAG and SHR were 136 (107-182) mg/dl, 131 (117-151) mg/dl, and 1.02 (0.20-3.34), respectively. During follow-up 102 (17.0%) died. In patients with diabetes, those in the lowest SHR tertile had a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.24 (95% CI: 1.05-5.22) (model 1) and 2.34 (1.25-4.38) (model 2). In patients without diabetes, the HR of three-month death in the lowest SHR tertile was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.36-1.39) and 1.02 (0.58-1.81). Significant interaction was observed between diabetes and SHR.

CONCLUSIONS

In HF patients with diabetes, a SHR ≤0.88 was associated with a more than twofold higher three-month mortality risk. No such association was found in non-diabetic patients. The presence of diabetes influences the association of the SHR with mortality.

The association between stress hyperglycemia and unfavorable outcomes in patients with anterior circulation stroke after mechanical thrombectomy

Background and purpose

Stress hyperglycemia is common in critical and severe diseases. However, few studies have examined the association between stress hyperglycemia and the functional outcomes of patients with anterior circulation stroke, after mechanical thrombectomy (MT), in different diabetes status. This study therefore aimed to determine the relationship between stress hyperglycemia and the risk of adverse neurological functional outcomes in anterior circulation stroke patients with and without diabetes after MT.

Methods

Data of 408 patients with acute anterior circulation stroke treated with MT through the green-channel treatment system for emergency stroke at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2016 and December 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. The stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) was calculated as fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) divided by glycosylated hemoglobin (%). The patients were stratified into four groups by quartiles of SHR (Q1-Q4). The primary outcome was an excellent (nondisabled) functional outcome at 3 months after admission (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-1). The relationship between stress hyperglycemia and neurological outcome after stroke was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with patients in Q1, those in Q4 were less likely to have an excellent outcome at 3 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-0.66, p = 0.003), a good outcome at 3 months (OR, 0.41, 95% CI, 0.20-0.84, p = 0.020), and major neurological improvement (OR, 0.38, 95% CI, 0.19-0.73, p = 0.004). Severe stress hyperglycemia increased risks of 3-months all-cause mortality (OR, 2.82, 95% CI, 1.09-8.29, p = 0.041) and ICH (OR, 2.54, 95% CI, 1.21-5.50, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Stress hyperglycemia was associated with a reduced rate of excellent neurological outcomes, and increased mortality and ICH risks in patients with anterior circulation stroke after MT regardless of diabetes status.

Association of the stress hyperglycemia ratio and clinical outcomes in patients with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

Stress hyperglycemia (SH) is common in patients with acute diseases, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is calculated by glucose/glycated hemoglobin and has been widely used for evaluating SH. But whether SHR is associated with clinical outcomes in stroke patients remains unclear so far. Although many studies have shown that higher SHR means poor outcomes, there is still no absolute evidence that SHR plays a critical role in stroke patients. Hence, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis aiming to investigate the association between SHR and clinical outcomes in stroke patients.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases, Clinicaltrials.gov, and WHO-ICTRP. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we performed our study. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) tool was used to examine the potential bias of included studies. The endpoints including poor outcome, mortality, neurological deficit, hemorrhagic transformation (HT), and infectious complications were statistically analyzed.

Results

Sixteen retrospective studies met the eligibility criteria, and a number of 183,588 patients were included. Our meta-analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the incidence of poor outcome, according to assessment by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≥ 3 points [odds ratio (OR) 2.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.99–3.22, P < 0.00001, I² = 68%], mortality (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.58–2.44, P < 0.00001, I² = 61%), neurological deficit (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.47–2.70, P < 0.00001, I² = 75%), hemorrhagic transformation (HT) (OR 3.70, 95% CI 2.69–5.08, P < 0.00001, I² = 0%), and infectious complications [(Pneumonia) OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.57–2.72, P < 0.00001, I² = 24%; (Urinary tract infection) OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.45–4.42, P = 0.001, I² = 57%] in stroke patients with higher SHR. However, no significant influence was observed for recanalization rate (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.54–1.38, P = 0.53, I² = 0%).

Conclusion

With or without diabetes, no matter whether undergoing intravenous thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy, higher SHR significantly increased the occurrence of poor outcomes, mortality, neurological deficit, HT, and infectious complications. The recanalization rate was not statistically significant between the two groups. More attention must be paid in clinical practice to SH. Future investigation should focus on the diagnostic value of SHR and the early control of hyperglycemia. Meanwhile, whether SHR could become a novel and promising target for early intervention is worthy of attention in further research. Besides, the influence of the dynamic change of glucose-to-HbA1c ratio, namely SHR, on intracerebral hemorrhage outcomes requires further investigation in future research. Although no randomized double-blind studies have been conducted, the available massive sample studies reflect the actual situation in the clinic and assist clinical decision makers.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022345587.

Stress hyperglycemia is predictive of clinical outcomes in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

Background

Stress hyperglycemia is a common condition in patients suffering from critical illness such as spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Our study aimed to use glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ratio to investigate the impact of stress hyperglycemia on clinical outcomes in patients with ICH.

Methods

A sample of eligible 586 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage from a multicenter, hospital-based cohort between 2014 and 2016 were recruited in our study. Stress hyperglycemia was evaluated by the index of the glucose-to-HbA1c ratio that was calculated by fasting blood glucose (mmol/L) divided by HbA1c (%). Patients were divided into two groups based on the median of the glucose-to-HbA1c ratio. The main outcomes were poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 3–6) at discharge and 90 days. Multivariable logistic regression and stratified analyses were performed to explore the association of stress hyperglycemia with poor prognosis of ICH.

Results

On multivariable analysis, higher glucose-to-HbA1c ratio (≥1.02) was independently correlated with poor functional outcomes at discharge (adjusted OR = 3.52, 95%CI: 1.98–6.23) and 90 days (adjusted OR = 2.27, 95%CI: 1.38–3.73) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The correlation between glucose-to-HbA1c ratio and worse functional outcomes still retained in patients with or without diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions

Stress hyperglycemia, calculated by glucose-to-HbA1c ratio, was independently correlated with worse functional outcomes at discharge and 90 days in patients with ICH. Moreover, glucose-to-HbA1c ratio, might not only be used as a simple and readily available index to predict clinical outcomes of ICH but also provide meaningful insight into future analysis to investigate the optimal range of glucose levels among ICH patients and develop tailored glucose-lowering strategies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12883-022-02760-9.

Association of diabetes mellitus and admission glucose levels with outcome after endovascular therapy in acute ischaemic stroke in anterior circulation

BACKGROUND

We aimed to assess the association of diabetes mellitus (DM) and admission hyperglycaemia (AH) respectively and outcome in patients with acute ischaemic stroke with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation treated with endovascular therapy (EVT) in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

Consecutive EVT patients admitted to our stroke centre between 02/2015-04/2020 were included in this observational cohort study. Patients with vs. without DM and with vs. without AH≥7.8mmol/l were compared.

RESULTS

We included 1020 patients (48.9% women, median age 73.1 years). 282 (27.6%) and 226 (22.2%) had DM and/or AH. Patients with vs. without DM showed less often successful reperfusion (_adjusted OR=0.61;p=0.023) and worse 3-month functional outcome (mRS:0-2:31.3% vs. 48%;_adjusted OR=0.59;p=0.004, death:38.9% vs. 24.1%;_adjusted OR=1.75;p=0.002 and mRS-shift:_adjusted p<0.0001, if moderate/good collaterals and mismatch:mRS:0-2:_adjusted OR=0.52;p=0.005, death:_adjusted OR=1.95;p=0.005). If analysis was adjusted for AH additionally, only mRS-shift was still significantly worse in patients with DM (_adjusted p=0.012). Patients with vs. without AH showed similar successful reperfusion rates and worse 3-month functional outcome (mRS:0-2:28.3% vs. 50.4%;_adjusted OR=0.52;p<0.0001, death:40.4% vs. 22.4%;_adjusted OR=1.80;p=0.001 and mRS-shift:_adjusted p<0.0001, if moderate/good collaterals and mismatch:mRS:0-2:_adjusted OR=0.38;p<0.0001, death:_adjusted OR=2.39;p<0.0001). If analysis was adjusted for DM additionally, 3-month functional outcome remained significantly worse in patients with AH (mRS:0-2:_adjusted OR=0.58;p=0.004, death:_adjusted OR=1.57;p=0.014 and mRS-shift:_adjusted p=0.004). DM independently predicted recurrent/progressive in-hospital ischaemic stroke (OR=1.71;p=0.043) together with admission NIHSS score (OR=0.95;p=0.005) and AH independently predicted in-hospital symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (OR=2.21;p=0.001). The association of admission continuous glucose levels and most outcome variables was (inversely) J-shaped.

CONCLUSIONS

AH more than DM was associated with worse 3-month outcome in the patients studied - more likely so in case of moderate/good collaterals and mismatch in admission imaging.

Intensive Versus Standard Treatment of Hyperglycemia in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient: A Randomized Clinical Trial Subgroups Analysis

Benefit from blood glucose (BG) control during acute ischemic stroke may depend on glycemic parameters. We evaluated for associations between the SHINE (Stroke Hyperglycemia Insulin Network Effort) randomized treatment group and the SHINE predefined 90-day functional outcome, within-patient subgroups defined by various glycemic parameters.

Predictors of mortality in acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy despite successful reperfusion: subgroup analysis of a multicentre randomised clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine the predictors of 90-day mortality despite successful reperfusion.

DESIGN

Subgroup analysis of a multicentre randomised clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03469206).

SETTING

This study used data from the Direct Intra-arterial thrombectomy in order to Revascularize AIS patients with large vessel occlusion Efficiently in Chinese Tertiary hospitals: a Multicenter randomized clinical Trial (DIRECT-MT).

PARTICIPANTS

622 patients enrolled in DIRECT-MT.

RESULTS

Overall successful reperfusion rate was 82.0% (510/622), and 18.5% (115/622) of patients died within 90 days. Univariate analysis identified increased risks of mortality for age ≥70 years, history of diabetes mellitus, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission ≥17, NIHSS score after thrombectomy (24±6 hours) ≥11, Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) <9, glucose level at hospital arrival ≥130 mg/dL, location of internal carotid artery occlusion, embolisation into a new territory, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) and a decreased risk of mortality for smoking. In multivariable analysis, smoking (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.83; p=0.015), NIHSS score on admission ≥17 (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.77 to 5.55; p<0.001), glucose level at hospital arrival ≥130 mg/dL (OR 2.54; 95% CI 1.51 to 4.27; p<0.001), symptomatic ICH (OR 11.70; 95% CI 4.74 to 28.89; p<0.001) and NIHSS score after thrombectomy (24±6 hours) ≥11 (OR 12.04; 95% CI 5.09 to 28.46; p<0.001) were significant independent predictors of 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Symptomatic ICH and high post-thrombectomy NIHSS score are strong predictor of 90-day mortality in acute ischaemic stroke treated with mechanical thrombectomy despite successful reperfusion, as well as high NIHSS score and high glucose level at hospital arrival. However, further studies need to be performed to confirm the association between smoking and mortality.

Effects of perioperative glycemic indicators on outcomes of endovascular treatment for vertebrobasilar artery occlusion

OBJECTIVE

Endovascular treatment (EVT) is, to date, the most promising treatment of vertebrobasilar artery occlusion (VBAO). The study aimed to determine the influence of perioperative glucose levels on clinical outcomes in patients with acute VBAO treated with EVT.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected consecutive VBAO patients received EVT in 21 stroke centers in China. The associations between perioperative glycemic indicators (including fasting blood glucose[FBG], admission hyperglycemia, stress hyperglycemia ratio [SHR] and short-term glycemic variability [GV]) and various clinical outcomes were analyzed in all patients and subgroups stratified by diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS

A total of 569 patients were enrolled. Admission hyperglycemia significantly correlated with increased risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) (odds ratio [OR] 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-7.46), poor functional outcomes at 90 days (OR 1.91, 95%CI: 1.15-3.18) and 1 year (OR 1.96, 95%CI: 1.20-3.22). Similar significant correlations exist between FBG, SHR, GV and all the adverse outcomes except higher levels GV was not associated with increased risk of sICH (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.97-1.12). Subgroup analyses showed that admission hyperglycemia, FBG and SHR were significantly associated with adverse outcomes in non-diabetic patients, but not in DM patients. While, GV was associated with poor functional outcomes regardless of diabetes history.

CONCLUSIONS

Admission hyperglycemia, FBG, SHR and short-term GV in VBAO patients treated with EVT were associated with adverse outcomes. The results suggested that comprehensive evaluation and appropriate management of perioperative glucose might be important for patients with VBAO and treatment with EVT.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in acute ischemic stroke: Immunopathology, management, and prognosis

There is an ongoing need for accurate prognostic biomarkers in the milieu of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving reperfusion therapy. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been implicated in emergency medicine and acute stroke setting as an important biomarker in the prognosis of patients. However, there are ongoing questions around its accuracy and translation into clinical practice given suboptimal sensitivity and specificity results, as well as varying thresholds and lack of clarity around which NLR time points are most clinically indicative. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the role of NLR in AIS patients receiving reperfusion therapy and perspectives on areas of future research. NLR may be an important biomarker in risk stratifying patients in AIS to identify and select those who are more likely to benefit from reperfusion therapy. Appropriate clinical decision-making tools and models are required to harness the predictive value of NLR, which could be useful in identifying and monitoring high-risk patients to guide early treatment and achieve improved outcomes. Our understanding of the role of NLR in the immunopathogenesis of AIS is also suboptimal, which hinders the ability to translate this into clinical practice.

Clinical and Non-Clinical Determinants of the Effect of Mechanical Thrombectomy and Post-Stroke Functional Status of Patients in Short and Long-Term Follow-Up

To date, inconsistent results evaluating the effect of parameters on mechanical thrombectomy (MT) outcomes in stroke-patients have been published. This study aimed to identify the key parameters for functional status after MT in stroke-patients in short and long-term follow-up.

METHOD

The study analysis focused on the relevance of selected clinical and non-clinical parameters to the functional status of the patients after MT.

RESULTS

417 stroke-patients (mean age 67.8 ± 13.2 years) were qualified. Atrial fibrillation, and leukocytosis were significant for the neurological status on the first day of stroke (p = 0.036, and p = 0.0004, respectively). The parameters with the strongest effect on the functional status on day 10 were: age (p = 0.009), NIHSS (p = 0.002), hyperglycemia (p = 0.009), the result in TICI (p = 0.046), and first pass effect (p = 0.043). The parameters with the strongest effect on the functional status on day 365 were: age and NIHSS on the first day of stroke (p = 0.0002 and 0.002, respectively). Leukocytosis and the neurological status at baseline were key parameters associated with ICB after MT (p = 0.007 and p = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Age and neurological status in the ultra-acute phase of stroke are crucial for the functional status in short and long-term observations of patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Atrial fibrillation, hyperglycemia, and inflammatory state are relevant to the short-term post-stroke functional status. First pass effect and the degree of post-interventional reperfusion are important technical parameters to the short-term functional status. Neurological status and white blood count during the acute phase are associated with a high rate of post-procedural intracranial bleeding.

Stress Hyperglycemia in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Large Vessel Occlusion Undergoing Mechanical Thrombectomy

Stress hyperglycemia may impair outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (MT). The glucose-to-glycated hemoglobin ratio (GAR) was used to measure stress hyperglycemia. Data from our database of consecutive patients admitted to the Udine University Hospital with AIS who were treated with MT between January 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. We included 204 patients in the study and stratified them into four groups according to the quartiles of GAR (Q1-Q4). The higher the GAR index, the more severe the stress hyperglycemia was considered. Patients with more severe stress hyperglycemia showed a higher prevalence of 3-month poor outcome (Q1, 53.1%; Q2, 40.4%; Q3, 63.5%; Q4, 82.4%; p = 0.001), 3-month mortality (Q1, 14.3%; Q2, 11.5%; Q3, 15.4%; Q4, 31.4%; p = 0.001), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (Q1, 2%; Q2, 7.7%; Q3, 7.7%; Q4, 25.4%; p = 0.001). After controlling for several confounders, severe stress hyperglycemia remained a significant predictor of 3-month poor outcome (OR 4.52, 95% CI 1.4-14.62, p = 0.012), 3-month mortality (OR 3.55, 95% CI 1.02-12.29, p = 0.046), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR 6.89, 95% CI 1.87-25.36, p = 0.004). In summary, stress hyperglycemia, as measured by the GAR index, is associated with a detrimental effect in patients with AIS undergoing MT.

Outcome prediction for patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke following endovascular treatment: A single-center study

Previous studies have identified various factors associated with the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) but considered only 1 or 2 predictive factors. The present study aimed to use outcome-related factors derived from biochemical, imaging and clinical data to establish a logistic regression model that can predict the outcome of patients with AIS following endovascular treatment (EVT). The data of 118 patients with anterior circulation AIS (ACAIS) who underwent EVT between October 2014 and August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the modified Rankin Scale score at three months after surgery, where 0–2 points were considered to indicate a favorable outcome and 3–6 points were considered a poor outcome. Non-conditional logistic stepwise regression was used to identify independent variables that were significantly associated with patient outcome, which were subsequently used to establish a predictive statistical model, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to show the performance of statistical model and analyze the specific association between each factor and outcome. Among the 118 patients, 47 (39.83%) exhibited a good and 71 (60.17%) exhibited a poor outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed that the predictive model was statistically significant (χ²=78.92; P<0.001), and that the predictive accuracy of the model was 83.1%, which was higher compared with that obtained using only a single factor. ROC curve analysis shows the area under curve of the statistical model was 0.823, the analysis of diagnostic threshold for prognostic factors indicated that age, diffusion-weighted imaging lesion volume, glucose on admission, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission and hypersensitive C-reactive protein were valuable predictive factors for the outcome of EVT (P<0.05). In conclusion, a predictive model based on non-conditional logistic stepwise regression analysis was able to predict the outcome of EVT for patients with ACAIS.