Predictive Significance of Day-to-Day Blood Pressure Variability in Acute Ischemic Stroke for 12-Month Functional Outcomes

Day-by-Day Blood Pressure Variability in the Subacute Stage of Ischemic Stroke and Long-Term Recurrence

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine whether variability of day-by-day blood pressure (BP) during the subacute stage of acute ischemic stroke is predictive of long-term stroke recurrence.

METHODS

We analyzed 7665 patients (mean±SD age: 72.9±13.1 years; women: 42.4%) hospitalized for first-ever ischemic stroke in 7 stroke centers in Fukuoka, Japan, from June 2007 to November 2018. BP was measured daily during the subacute stage (4-10 days after onset). Its mean and coefficient of variation (CV) values were calculated and divided into 4 groups according to the quartiles of these BP parameters. Patients were prospectively followed up for recurrent stroke or all-cause death. The cumulative event rate was calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method. We estimated the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the events of interest after adjusting for potential confounders and mean BP values using Cox proportional hazards models. The Fine-Gray model was also used to account for the competing risk of death.

RESULTS

With a mean (±SD) follow-up duration of 3.9±3.2 years, the rates of recurrent stroke and all-cause death were 3.9 and 9.9 per 100 patient-years, respectively. The cumulative event rates of recurrent stroke and all-cause death increased with increasing CVs of systolic BP and diastolic BP. The systolic BP CV was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke after adjusting for multiple confounders and mean BP (hazard ratio [95% CI] for fourth quartile versus first quartile, 1.26 [1.05-1.50]); the risk of recurrent stroke also increased with an increasing systolic BP CV for nonfatal strokes (1.26 [1.05-1.51]) and when death was regarded as a competing risk (1.21 [1.02-1.45]). Similar associations were observed for the diastolic BP CV.

CONCLUSIONS

Day-by-day variability of BP during the subacute stage of acute ischemic stroke was associated with an increased long-term risk of recurrent stroke.

Management of Elevated Blood Pressure After Stroke Thrombectomy for Anterior Circulation

Thrombectomy is superior to intravenous thrombolysis for patients with large vessel occlusion in acute ischemic stroke, but nearly half of the patients still experience poor functional outcomes. Elevated blood pressure (BP) is widely observed in acute ischemic stroke, and BP may be one of the modifiable parameters that can potentially influence the outcomes; however, only observational studies exist to support current guidelines, and the recommended range for BP after thrombectomy is too wide to meet the clinical requirement. Randomized controlled trials are therefore needed to better understand the relationship between BP and outcomes after thrombectomy. In this review, we introduce the current management of BP after thrombectomy and several aspects of postthrombectomy BP management that should be resolved in future clinical trials.

Increasing Blood Pressure Variability Predicts Poor Functional Outcome Following Acute Stroke

INTRODUCTION

Increasing blood pressure variability has been reported following acute stroke, but there is uncertainty about how best to measure it and about the impact on prognosis following acute ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack.

METHODS

Enhanced casual blood pressure and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were completed at baseline (≤48 h post symptom onset). Blood pressure variability was defined by standard deviation and coefficient of variation of systolic, diastolic, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. Modified Rankin scale score ≥3 described poor functional outcome assessed at 1- and 12-months post-stroke. Multivariable logistic regression models incorporating blood pressure variability measurement and other factors were performed, and odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals reported.

RESULTS

232 patients were recruited; 45 were dependent at 1-month, and 37 at 12-months. Dependent patients were more likely to be older, with a higher burden of pre-morbid conditions, and with increased blood pressure variability. Enhanced casual standard deviations of diastolic blood pressure [1.19 (1.02 to 1.39)] and mean arterial pressure [1.20 (1.00 to 1.43)] predicted dependency at 1-month. Predictors of 12-month dependency included: enhanced casual standard deviation of mean arterial pressure [1.21 (1.0-1.46)]; 24 h ambulatory monitor standard deviations of diastolic blood pressure [2.30 (1.08-4.90)] and mean arterial pressure [1.72 (1.09-2.72)], and the coefficient of variation of mean arterial pressure [1.76 (1.05-2.94)]; day-time ambulatory monitor coefficient of variation of systolic blood pressure [1.44 (1.02-2.03)] and mean arterial pressure [1.46 (1.02-2.08)]; and night-time ambulatory standard deviation of diastolic blood pressure [1.65 (1.03 -2.63)], and the coefficient of variation of mean arterial pressure and [1.38 (1.00- 1.90)] and pulse pressure [1.29 (1.00-1.65)].

CONCLUSION

Increasing blood pressure variability is independently and modestly associated with poor functional outcome at 1- and 12-months following acute stroke.

Day-by-Day Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated With Neurological Functional Outcome After Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: Increased blood pressure variability (BPV) might be a detrimental factor after acute ischemic stroke. Previous studies on the association between blood pressure variability in the acute ischemic stroke and functional outcome have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the impact of day-by-day blood pressure variability within 7 days of onset on functional outcome at 3 months after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Total 367 patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke within 48 h of onset were enrolled. The acute stage of ischemic stroke was defined as the time period from symptom onset to 7 days. During this period, blood pressure was measured twice daily (respectively, in the morning during 8:00 a.m.−10:00 a.m., in the afternoon between 15:00 p.m. and 17:00 p.m.). Day-by-day blood pressure variability, including standard deviation (SD) and coefficient variation (CV) were derived and compared to functional outcome. We dichotomized function outcome according to mRS score and unfavorable outcome was defined as mRS ≥3.

Results: The patients with unfavorable outcome had significantly higher systolic BPV (within 7 days of onset) than those with favorable outcome (15.41 ± 4.59 vs. 13.42 ± 3.95 mmHg for SD, P < 0.001; 11.54 ± 3.23 vs. 10.41 ± 2.82 for CV, P = 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that systolic BPV was significantly and independently associated with the 3-month functional outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.22, P < 0.001 for SD; OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.26, P = 0.001 for CV]. In addition, After adjustment for multiple confounding factors, including age, gender, risk factors, stroke features, baseline severity, recanalized therapy, hemorrhagic transformation, pulmonary infection, white blood cell, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and mean BP, day-by-day BP variability was significantly correlated with an unfavorable outcome in the top vs. bottom quartile of systolic BPV (OR = 3.33, 95% CI: 1.41–7.85, P = 0.006 for SD; OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.04–4.94, P = 0.037 for CV) during 3-month follow-up. Similar trends were also observed for diastolic BPV. More importantly, incorporating SD of systolic BP into the conventional prediction model could significantly increase the AUC for prediction of 3-month unfavorable outcome after acute ischemic stroke (0.84 vs. 0.86; P = 0.0416).

Conclusions: Increased day-by-day blood pressure variability of systolic or diastolic BP in the acute ischemic stroke was associated with higher risk for unfavorable outcome at 3 months independent of blood pressure levels. Combining SD of systolic BP with conventional risk factors could improve the prediction of unfavorable outcome.

In-Hospital Blood Pressure Variability: A Novel Prognostic Marker of Renal Function Decline and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

INTRODUCTION

Several measures of blood pressure (BP) variability have been associated with kidney disease and cardiovascular events. Although BP is routinely measured during hospitalization in daily practice, the prognostic impact of in-hospital BP and its variability are uncertain.

METHODS

A total of 226 participants who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were included. BP was measured by trained nurses during the 4-day hospitalization for PCI. BP variability was assessed by standard deviation (SD) and coefficient variation of systolic BP. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated at baseline and follow-up (≥6 months). The cardiovascular end point was defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and any coronary revascularization.

RESULTS

In-hospital BP was measured 9.5 ± 0.8 times. During a median follow-up period of 1.7 years, mean eGFR change was -1.7 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year, and 35 (15.5%) participants met the cardiovascular end point. Mean systolic BP and SD were negatively correlated with eGFR change. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, SD of systolic BP predicted the cardiovascular end point (AUC 0.63, best cutoff value 14.2 mm Hg, p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of the cardiovascular end point in patients with SD of systolic BP ≥14.2 mm Hg compared to their counterpart (p = 0.003). A multivariable analysis showed SD of systolic BP as an independent predictor for the cardiovascular end point. When assessed with coefficient variation, BP variability was similarly related to eGFR change and clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Greater in-hospital BP variability was associated with renal function decline and cardiovascular events in patients with stable CAD.

Aerobic Training and Mobilization Early Post-stroke: Cautions and Considerations

Knowledge gaps exist in how we implement aerobic exercise programs during the early phases post-stroke. Therefore, the objective of this review was to provide evidence-based guidelines for pre-participation screening, mobilization, and aerobic exercise training in the hyper-acute and acute phases post-stroke. In reviewing the literature to determine safe timelines of when to initiate exercise and mobilization we considered the following factors: arterial blood pressure dysregulation, cardiac complications, blood-brain barrier disruption, hemorrhagic stroke transformation, and ischemic penumbra viability. These stroke-related impairments could intensify with inappropriate mobilization/aerobic exercise, hence we deemed the integrity of cerebral autoregulation to be an essential physiological consideration to protect the brain when progressing exercise intensity. Pre-participation screening criteria are proposed and countermeasures to protect the brain from potentially adverse circulatory effects before, during, and following mobilization/exercise sessions are introduced. For example, prolonged periods of standing and static postures before and after mobilization/aerobic exercise may elicit blood pooling and/or trigger coagulation cascades and/or cerebral hypoperfusion. Countermeasures such as avoiding prolonged standing or incorporating periodic lower limb movement to activate the venous muscle pump could counteract blood pooling after an exercise session, minimize activation of the coagulation cascade, and mitigate potential cerebral hypoperfusion. We discuss patient safety in light of the complex nature of stroke presentations (i.e., type, severity, and etiology), medical history, comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiac manifestations, medications, and complications such as anemia and dehydration. The guidelines are easily incorporated into the care model, are low-risk, and use minimal resources. These and other strategies represent opportunities for improving the safety of the activity regimen offered to those in the early phases post-stroke. The timeline for initiating and progressing exercise/mobilization parameters are contingent on recovery stages both from neurobiological and cardiovascular perspectives, which to this point have not been specifically considered in practice. This review includes tailored exercise and mobilization prescription strategies and precautions that are not resource intensive and prioritize safety in stroke recovery.

Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated With White Matter Lesion Growth in Intracranial Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

High blood pressure variability (BPV) is associated with recurrent stroke. We investigated the association between BPV, new ischemic lesions (NILs), and white matter lesion (WML) growth in patients with ischemic stroke due to intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS).

METHODS

This study was performed as a post-hoc analysis of the STABLE-ICAS trial, which enrolled subacute ischemic stroke patients with symptomatic ICAS (>50% stenosis) and hypertension. BPV was measured at the office (visit by visit) and at home (day by day). Patients were divided into 3 groups (tertiles) according to their home BPV. WML growth and the occurrence of NILs were compared among the 3 groups. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors of WML growth and NILs.

RESULTS

Of the 111 enrolled patients, 69 patients (67.6%) demonstrated WML growth and 15 patients (13.7%) had NILs. Patients with higher BPV demonstrated a more WML growth (50% vs. 61.8% vs. 83.8; P = 0.02, by tertiles) and more NILs (5.4% vs. 5.4% vs. 29.7%; P = 0.002, by tertiles). In multivariable analyses, old age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.052 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.005-1.101); P = 0.03] and home BPV [OR = 1.149 (95% CI = 1.013-1.304); P = 0.02] were independently associated with WML growth. Low mean diastolic blood pressure [OR = 0.913 (95% CI = 0.874-0.984); P = 0.02] and high home BPV [OR = 1.287 (95% CI = 1.086-1.526); P = 0.004] were independently associated with NILs at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

High BPV is associated with WML growth and NIL in ischemic stroke patients with symptomatic ICAS. BPV monitoring at home may be helpful.

Management of Blood Pressure During and After Recanalization Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is a common neurologic condition and can lead to significant long term disability and death. Observational studies have demonstrated worse outcomes in patients presenting with the extremes of blood pressure as well as with hemodynamic variability. Despite these associations, optimal hemodynamic management in the immediate period of ischemic stroke remains an unresolved issue, particularly in the modern era of revascularization therapies. While guidelines exist for BP thresholds during and after thrombolytic therapy, there is substantially less data to guide management during mechanical thrombectomy. Ideal blood pressure targets after attempted recanalization depend both on the degree of reperfusion achieved as well as the extent of infarction present. Following complete reperfusion, lower blood pressure targets may be warranted to prevent reperfusion injury and promote penumbra recovery however prospective clinical trials addressing this issue are warranted.

Increased blood pressure variability following acute stroke is associated with poor long-term outcomes: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Blood pressure variability (BPV) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) may be of prognostic significance. However, methodological heterogeneity of studies may contribute to inconsistent findings, and study findings are therefore not readily comparable. We investigated study methodologies which have assessed the long-term outcomes (≥7 days) of BPV post-AIS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature search was conducted in OVID Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science following a predefined search strategy. Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility and quality, and source data were extracted.

RESULTS

Of 2044 studies identified, 19 observational studies and one case-control study were included; seven studies were additionally included. Twenty-two studies obtained good risk of bias ratings. Key findings were methodological heterogeneity and significant variability in the reporting of key criteria. Twenty-four studies reported intervals between blood pressure assessments; although 19 studies reported the monitoring device used, only eight studies reported the number of blood pressure measurements taken per visit. The majority measured supine blood pressure (n=13), and eight studies reported whether this was in the hemiparetic or unaffected arm. Sixteen studies defined BPV using SD and seven studies used only a single blood pressure parameter to quantify BPV. Increased BPV was associated with poorer neurological and functional outcomes, and death (n=23); other unfavorable outcomes included irregularly shaped lacunar infarcts, and impaired cognition (n=3).

CONCLUSION

Methodological heterogeneity is frequently observed in studies, primarily because of incomplete study reporting. However, increased BPV is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. There is a need for prospective studies investigating BPV post-AIS to report full methodologies according to standardized criteria.

Antihypertensive therapy in acute ischemic stroke: where do we stand?

Despite the proven benefits of strict blood pressure (BP) control on primary and secondary prevention of stroke, management of acute hypertensive response in the early post-stroke period is surrounded by substantial controversy. Observational studies showed that raised BP on ischemic stroke onset is prognostically associated with excess risk for early adverse events and mortality. By contrast, randomized controlled trials and recent meta-analyses showed that although antihypertensive therapy effectively controls elevated BP in the acute stage of ischemic stroke, this BP-lowering effect is not translated into improvement in the risk of death or dependency. On this basis, acute and aggressive BP responses within 24 h of stroke onset should be avoided and antihypertensive therapy is recommended only for patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke and BP > 220/120 mmHg or those with BP > 185/110 mmHg who are eligible for therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. By contrast, recent clinical trials showed that intensive BP lowering to levels < 140 mmHg for systolic BP is safe and lowers the risk of hematoma expansion in patients with acute intra-cerebral hemorrhage and this BP target is recommended by current international guidelines. Herein, we provide an overview of randomized trials and recent meta-analyses on the management of hypertension during the acute stage of ischemic stroke. We discuss several areas of uncertainty and conclude with perspectives for future research.

Morning hypertension is a risk factor of macrovascular events following cerebral infarction: A retrospective study

This study aimed to investigate risk factors (such as morning hypertension, drug compliance, and biochemical parameters) of macrovascular events after cerebral infarction.This was a retrospective study of patients with cerebral infarction admitted between May 2015 and April 2016 at the Fengxian Branch, 6th People's Hospital of Shanghai. They were divided into the macrovascular events and control groups according to the diagnosis of macrovascular events following cerebral infarction.Among the 702 patients included for analysis, 122 patients were with macrovascular events and 580 were without macrovascular events (controls). Morning hypertension (P = .01), dyslipidemia (P = .007), atrial fibrillation (P = .039), carotid artery plaque (P = .014), inflammatory infection (P = .005), high homocysteine (P = .032), antithrombotic compliance (P < .001), statins compliance (P < .001), morning diastolic blood pressure (P < .001), morning systolic blood pressure (P < .001), and morning heart rate (morHR) (P = .033) were associated with macrovascular events. Multivariable analysis showed that morning hypertension (P = .021, odds ratio [OR] = 1.753, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.088, 2.826]), dyslipidemia (P = .021, OR = 1.708, 95% CI [1.085, 2.687]), and inflammatory infection (P = .031, OR = 2.263, 95% CI [1.078, 4.752]) were independent risk factors for macrovascular events, while antithrombotic compliance (P < .001, OR = 0.488, 95% CI [0.336, 0.709]), statin compliance (P = .02, OR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.44, 0.931]), and morHR (P = .027, OR = 0.977, 95% CI [0.958, 0.997]) were independent protective factors against macrovascular events. Atrial fibrillation showed a tendency to be associated with macrovascular events (P = .077, OR = 1.531, 95% CI [0.955, 2.454]).Morning hypertension, dyslipidemia, and inflammatory infection may increase the risk of macrovascular events following cerebral infarction. Improving morning blood pressure management and drug compliance (antithrombotic drugs and statins) may reduce the risk of macrovascular events following cerebral infarction.

Twenty-four-hour blood pressure variability plays a detrimental role in the neurological outcome of hemorrhagic stroke

Background

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is a modifiable risk factor for stroke. This study was performed to determine the prognostic role of BPV in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke.

Methods

The data of 131 hospitalized hypertensive patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) were collected. All patients underwent examinations using several neurological scales (Glasgow Coma Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin scale [mRS]) and BP measurements at different time points.

Results

Sex, age, hematoma volume, and neurological scores were not significantly different between patients with a favorable and unfavorable prognosis for sICH. However, significant differences were found in hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, atrial fibrillation, smoking, and stroke history. The standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and maximum–minimum range (Max–Min) of diastolic BP and the mean, SD, CV, and Max–Min of systolic BP significantly differed between the groups. Statistical analysis also demonstrated correlations between the 90-day mRS score and BPV and between systolic BPV and the 90-day mRS score.

Conclusion

High systolic or diastolic BPV within 24 hours of hemorrhagic stroke onset is associated with the 90-day neurological prognosis. The 24-hour BPV plays a critical role in the neurological outcome of hemorrhagic stroke.

Mid-Term Blood Pressure Variability Is Associated With Clinical Outcome After Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between mid-term blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) within 7 days of onset and the prognosis in acute stroke patients.

METHODS

Total 873 acute ischemic stroke patients were included in this study. Mid-term BPV was evaluated through the calculations of coefficient of variation (CV) of the systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) within 7 days of onset. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the recovery situations of neurological function at 3 months, the primary outcome (symptomatic recurrent stroke) and the secondary outcomes (recurrent stroke, all-cause mortality, and the composite of cardiovascular events) within 12 months.

RESULTS

Among 873 patients with ischemic stroke, 83 died, 125 developed recurrent stroke, and 212 developed cardiovascular events during 12 months' follow-up. At 3 months, systolic or diastolic BPV (within 7 days of onset) was associated with the recovery situations of neurological function in three models (all P < 0.05). Both higher CV of SBP and CV of DBP were significantly correlated with the increased risk of recurrent stroke (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-4.18, P = 0.005 for CV of SBP; HR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.29-4.19, P = 0.005 for CV of DBP) and composite cardiovascular events (HR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.41-3.48, P = 0.001 for CV of SBP; HR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.41-3.47, P = 0.001 for CV of DBP) during 12 months' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

After acute ischemic stroke, high systolic or diastolic BPV within 7 days of onset was associated with the recovery situations of neurological function at 3 months, and recurrent stroke and composite cardiovascular events within 12 months.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-14004804.