Interrelationship among common medical complications after acute stroke: pneumonia plays an important role

A Mediation Analysis of the Association Between Systemic Inflammation Response Index, in-Hospital Complications, and Poor Long-Term Functional Outcomes in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Insights from a Large Prospective Cohort Study

Purpose

Early systemic inflammatory changes are increasingly recognized as factors influencing outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), an inflammation biomarker, was thought to be associated with adverse outcomes in many other diseases. However, in aSAH, research on SIRI remains limited. Thus, our objective was to investigate the association between SIRI and poor long-term functional outcomes while evaluating the mediating role of in-hospital complications in this association.

Patients and Methods

SIRI was defined as neutrophil count × monocyte count/lymphocyte count. Patients were categorized according to SIRI quartiles. Stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (sIPTW) was utilized to minimize group differences. The association between SIRI and in-hospital complications as well as poor 90-day functional outcomes (mRS 3-6) was estimated by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between SIRI and poor functional outcomes mediated by in-hospital complications.

Results

A total of 650 patients were prospectively included. After sIPTW, compared to the lowest quartile, an elevated SIRI was associated with delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.20-3.74), post-operative pneumonia (POP) (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.29-3.62) and poor 90-day functional outcomes (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.55-5.91). In-hospital complications including DCI (mediation proportion, 18.18% before sIPTW and 20.0% after sIPTW) and POP (mediation proportion, 18.18% before sIPTW and 26.7% after sIPTW) partially mediated the association between SIRI and poor 90-day functional outcomes. Mediation analysis yielded comparable results in subgroups stratified by age and sex.

Conclusion

In this study, SIRI was associated with poor long-term functional outcomes in aSAH, which was partially mediated by DCI and POP with a mediation proportion exceeding 18%. Our findings might underscore the potential utility of SIRI in prompting physicians to address systemic inflammatory status timely to prevent in-hospital complications, including DCI and POP, and ultimately improve long-term functional outcomes.

Defective interferon signaling in the circulating monocytes of type 2 diabetic mice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with poor outcome after stroke. Peripheral monocytes play a critical role in the secondary injury and recovery of damaged brain tissue after stroke, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unclear. To investigate transcriptome changes and molecular networks across monocyte subsets in response to T2DM and stroke, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and bulk RNA-sequencing from blood monocytes from four groups of adult mice, consisting of T2DM model db/db and normoglycemic control db/+ mice with or without ischemic stroke. Via scRNAseq we found that T2DM expands the monocyte population at the expense of lymphocytes, which was validated by flow cytometry. Among the monocytes, T2DM also disproportionally increased the inflammatory subsets with Ly6C+ and negative MHC class II expression (MO.6C+II-). Conversely, monocytes from control mice without stroke are enriched with steady-state classical monocyte subset of MO.6C+II+ but with the least percentage of MO.6C+II- subtype. Apart from enhancing inflammation and coagulation, enrichment analysis from both scRNAseq and bulk RNAseq revealed that T2DM specifically suppressed type-1 and type-2 interferon signaling pathways crucial for antigen presentation and the induction of ischemia tolerance. Preconditioning by lipopolysaccharide conferred neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury in db/+ but not in db/db mice and coincided with a lesser induction of brain Interferon-regulatory-factor-3 in the brains of the latter mice. Our results suggest that the increased diversity and altered transcriptome in the monocytes of T2DM mice underlie the worse stroke outcome by exacerbating secondary injury and potentiating stroke-induced immunosuppression.

Significance Statement

The mechanisms involved in the detrimental diabetic effect on stroke are largely unclear. We show here, for the first time, that peripheral monocytes have disproportionally altered the subsets and changed transcriptome under diabetes and/or stroke conditions. Moreover, genes in the IFN-related signaling pathways are suppressed in the diabetic monocytes, which underscores the immunosuppression and impaired ischemic tolerance under the T2DM condition. Our data raise a possibility that malfunctioned monocytes may systemically and focally affect the host, leading to the poor outcome of diabetes in the setting of stroke. The results yield important clues to molecular mechanisms involved in the detrimental diabetic effect on stroke outcome.

A clinically actionable and explainable real-time risk assessment framework for stroke-associated pneumonia

The current medical practice is more responsive rather than proactive, despite the widely recognized value of early disease detection, including improving the quality of care and reducing medical costs. One of the cornerstones of early disease detection is clinically actionable predictions, where predictions are expected to be accurate, stable, real-time and interpretable. As an example, we used stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), setting up a transformer-encoder-based model that analyzes highly heterogeneous electronic health records in real-time. The model was proven accurate and stable on an independent test set. In addition, it issued at least one warning for 98.6 % of SAP patients, and on average, its alerts were ahead of physician diagnoses by 2.71 days. We applied Integrated Gradient to glean the model's reasoning process. Supplementing the risk scores, the model highlighted critical historical events on patients' trajectories, which were shown to have high clinical relevance.

Joint effect of ischemic stroke and obesity on the risk of venous thromboembolism: the Tromsø Study

Background

Patients with ischemic stroke have increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Obesity is prevalent in stroke patients and a well-established risk factor for VTE. Whether obesity further increases the VTE risk in patients with stroke remains unclear.

Objectives

We investigated the joint effect of ischemic stroke and obesity on the risk of incident VTE in a population-based cohort.

Methods

Participants (n = 29,920) were recruited from the fourth to sixth surveys of the Tromsø Study (1994-1995, 2001, and 2007-2008) and followed through 2014. Incident events of ischemic stroke and VTE during follow-up were recorded. Hazard ratios (HRs) of VTE with 95% CIs were estimated according to combined categories of ischemic stroke and obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2), with exposure to neither risk factors as reference.

Results

During a median follow-up of 19.6 years, 1388 participants experienced ischemic stroke and 807 participants developed VTE. Among those with stroke, 51 developed VTE, yielding an incidence rate of VTE after stroke of 7.2 per 1000 person-years (95% CI, 5.5-9.5). In subjects without stroke, obesity was associated with a 1.8-fold higher VTE risk (HR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.47-2.11). In nonobese subjects, stroke was associated with a 1.8-fold higher VTE risk (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.27-2.46). Obese subjects with stroke had a 2-fold increased VTE risk (HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 1.37-4.36).

Conclusion

The combination of obesity and ischemic stroke did not yield an excess risk of VTE. Our findings suggest that obese subjects with ischemic stroke do not have a more than additive risk of VTE.

Nomogram for Risk of Secondary Venous Thromboembolism in Stroke Patients: A Study Based on the MIMIC-IV Database

This study aims to identify risk factors for secondary venous thromboembolism (VTE) in stroke patients and establish a nomogram, an accurate predictor of probability of VTE occurrence during hospitalization in stroke patients. Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database of critical care medicine was utilized to retrieve information of stroke patients admitted to the hospital between 2008 and 2019. Patients were randomly allocated into train set and test set at 7:3. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for secondary VTE in stroke patients. A predictive nomogram model was constructed, and the predictive ability of the nomogram was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA). This study included 266 stroke patients, with 26 patients suffering secondary VTE after stroke. A nomogram for predicting risk of secondary VTE in stroke patients was built according to pulmonary infection, partial thromboplastin time (PTT), log-formed D-dimer, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Area under the curve (AUC) of the predictive model nomogram was 0.880 and 0.878 in the train and test sets, respectively. The calibration curve was near the diagonal, and DCA curve presented positive net benefit. This indicates the model's good predictive performance and clinical utility. The nomogram effectively predicts the risk probability of secondary VTE in stroke patients, aiding clinicians in early identification and personalized treatment of stroke patients at risk of developing secondary VTE.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Literature Review

Stroke is an infarction of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, or retina) that results from a disruption in cerebral blood flow either due to ischemia or hemorrhage. Complications of acute stroke are common and include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, among several others, all of which increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes. Gastrointestinal bleeding is a well-known complication that can occur during the acute phase of stroke. In this review, we have summarized the existing data regarding the incidence, pathophysiology, risk factors, morbidity, mortality, and management strategies for gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Socioeconomic and clinical factors associated with prolonged hospital length of stay after traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Hospital length of stay (HLOS) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a metric of injury severity, resource utilization, and access to services. This study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic and clinical factors associated with prolonged HLOS after TBI.

METHODS

Retrospective data from adult hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute TBI at a US Level 1 trauma center between August 1, 2019 - April 1, 2022 were extracted from the electronic health record. HLOS was stratified by Tier (1: 1-74th percentile; 2: 75-84th; 3: 85-94th; 4: 95-99th). Demographic, socioeconomic, injury severity, and level-of-care factors were compared by HLOS. Multivariable logistic regressions evaluated associations between socioeconomic and clinical variables and prolonged HLOS, using multivariable odds ratios (mOR) and [95% confidence intervals]. Estimated daily charges were calculated for a subset of medically-stable inpatients awaiting placement. Statistical significance was assessed at p < 0.05.

RESULTS

In 1443 patients, median HLOS was 4 days (interquartile range 2-8; range 0-145). HLOS Tiers were 0-7, 8-13, 14-27, and ≥28 days (Tiers 1-4, respectively). Patients with Tier 4 HLOS differed significantly from others, with increased Medicaid insurance (53.4% vs. 30.3-33.1%, p = 0.003), severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale 3-8: 38.4% vs. 8.7-18.2%, p < 0.001), younger age (mean 52.3-years vs. 61.1-63.7-years, p = 0.003), low socioeconomic status (53.4% vs. 32.0-33.9%, p = 0.003), and need for post-acute care (60.3% vs. 11.2-39.7%, p < 0.001). Independent factors associated with prolonged (Tier 4) HLOS were Medicaid (mOR = 1.99 [1.08-3.68], vs. Medicare/commercial), moderate and severe TBI (mOR = 3.48 [1.61-7.56]; mOR = 4.43 [2.18-8.99], respectively, vs. mild TBI), and need for post-acute placement (mOR = 10.68 [5.74-19.89], while age was protective (per-year mOR = 0.98 [0.97-0.99]). Estimated daily charges for a medically-stable inpatient was $17126.

CONCLUSIONS

Medicaid insurance, moderate/severe TBI, and need for post-acute care were independently associated with prolonged HLOS ≥28 days. Medically-stable inpatients awaiting placement accrue immense daily healthcare costs. At-risk patients should be identified early, receive care transitions resources, and be prioritized for discharge coordination pathways.

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Stroke-Associated Pneumonia

Background

Systemic immune inflammation has been investigated as a prognostic marker of different diseases. This study is designed to assess the association of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) with long-term mortality of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) patients.

Methods

Patients aged ≥18 years with SAP were selected from the Nanjing Stroke Registry Program in China. We retrospectively evaluated systemic immune-inflammation response with SII and pneumonia severity with the pneumonia severity index and the confusion, uremia, elevated respiratory rate, hypotension, and aged 65 years or older score. To explore the correlation between SII and mortality in SAP patients, multivariable Cox regressions and competing risk regressions were conducted. Mediation analysis was also performed to assess the role of pneumonia severity.

Results

Among 611 patients in the SAP population, death occurred in 164 patients (26.8%) during the median follow-up of 3.0 (1.2-4.6) years. In multivariate analysis, higher SII scores could predict increased mortality in patients with SAP (adjusted hazard ratio 2.061; 95% confidence interval, 1.256-3.383; P = 0.004), and the association was mediated by pneumonia severity. Moreover, adding SII to traditional models improved their predictive ability for mortality.

Conclusion

Our study displayed that SII was characterized in SAP patients with different prognoses. Elevated SII scores increased the risk of mortality. Further research is required for the clinical practice of the index among SAP patients.

Risk Factors of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Among Hospitalized Patients With Cardiac Diseases

Background To our knowledge, no studies have been done in Saudi Arabia to determine the risk factors of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) among hospitalized cardiac patients. This study aimed to assess these risk factors. Methods A retrospective study was done at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Five hundred hospitalized patients diagnosed with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) were included. A checklist was used to collect data about patients' demographic characteristics; BMI; smoking and alcohol abuse; type of cardiac disease; other chronic diseases; exposure to immunosuppressives; chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the last six months; glucocorticoid use; application of ventilator; initial, follow-up chest X-ray results; pneumonia vaccination status; nasogastric tube use; general anesthesia received; use of loop diuretics; presence of pulmonary diseases; levels of WBC, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP); results of blood and respiratory cultures; number of hospitalizations and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in the last six months; and Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) score. Results The prevalence of pneumonia was 7%. Females; patients with autoimmune diseases who were exposed to immunosuppressives or glucocorticoids; those with an initial or second abnormal chest X-ray; patients who used nasogastric tube, had pulmonary disease, and had high levels of WBC, ESR, or CRP; and patients hospitalized for more than two times had a significantly higher percentage of having pneumonia. Abnormal second chest X-ray, high ESR, and more than two times of hospitalization within the last six months were the risk factors of pneumonia on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion Better prevention and intervention programs are needed to assess the risk factors of pneumonia among admitted cardiac patients.

Patient's care bundle benefits to prevent stroke associated pneumonia: A meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis

Background

Patient's care bundle has been found to have a beneficial effect on refractory diseases, but the preventive effect of this strategy on stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) remains unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the role of the patient's care bundle in the prevention of SAP.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in five electronic databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published before January 31, 2022. The incidence of SAP and aspiration and the length of hospital stay were assessed. Random pair-wise meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) was also performed.

Results

Twenty eligible RCTs involving 1916 patients were included for data analysis. Pooled results suggested that patient's care bundle was associated with significantly lower incidence of SAP (risk ratio [RR], 0.37; 95% CI, 0.29–0.46; p &lt; 0.001; I2 = 0%) and aspiration (RR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.15–0.35; p &lt; 0.001; I2 = 0%). Meanwhile, patient's care bundle also significantly shortened the length of hospital stay for general patients (mean difference [MD], −3.10; 95% CI, −3.83 to −2.37; p &lt; 0.001; I2 = 16%) and the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay for patients with severe stoke (MD, −4.85; 95% CI, −5.86−3.84; p &lt; 0.001; I2 = 0%). Results of TSA confirmed that none of the findings could be significantly reversed by future studies.

Conclusions

The patient's care bundle effectively prevents the occurrence of SAP and aspiration and shortens the hospital stay of stroke patients. However, it is necessary to design more high-quality studies to further validate our findings and investigate their applicability in other geographical regions.

A novel risk score to predict deep vein thrombosis after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage

Background and purpose

Studies showed that patients with hemorrhagic stroke are at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) than those with ischemic stroke. We aimed to develop a risk score (intracerebral hemorrhage-associated deep vein thrombosis score, ICH-DVT) for predicting in-hospital DVT after ICH.

Methods

The ICH-DVT was developed based on the Beijing Registration of Intracerebral Hemorrhage, in which eligible patients were randomly divided into derivation (60%) and internal validation cohorts (40%). External validation was performed using the iMCAS study (In-hospital Medical Complication after Acute Stroke). Independent predictors of in-hospital DVT after ICH were obtained using multivariable logistic regression, and β-coefficients were used to generate a scoring system of the ICH-DVT. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test were used to assess model discrimination and calibration, respectively.

Results

The overall in-hospital DVT after ICH was 6.3%, 6.0%, and 5.7% in the derivation (n = 1,309), internal validation (n = 655), and external validation (n = 314) cohorts, respectively. A 31-point ICH-DVT was developed from the set of independent predictors including age, hematoma volume, subarachnoid extension, pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and length of hospitalization. The ICH-DVT showed good discrimination (AUROC) in the derivation (0.81; 95%CI = 0.79–0.83), internal validation (0.83, 95%CI = 0.80–0.86), and external validation (0.88; 95%CI = 0.84–0.92) cohorts. The ICH-DVT was well calibrated (Hosmer–Lemeshow test) in the derivation (P = 0.53), internal validation (P = 0.38), and external validation (P = 0.06) cohorts.

Conclusion

The ICH-DVT is a valid grading scale for predicting in-hospital DVT after ICH. Further studies on the effect of the ICH-DVT on clinical outcomes after ICH are warranted.

Risk factors and predictors for venous thromboembolism in people with ischemic stroke: A systematic review

Identification of individuals with ischemic stroke at particularly high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is crucial for targeted thromboprophylaxis. To guide clinical decision-making and development of risk prediction models, increased knowledge on risk factors and biomarkers is needed. Therefore, we set out to identify risk factors and predictors for VTE in people with ischemic stroke by conducting a systematic review of the literature. Medline and Embase were searched from January 1990 and onwards. Studies investigating demographic, clinical, and/or laboratory factors for stroke-related VTE were considered. Two reviewers screened all retrieved records, independently and in duplicate. Risk of bias assessments were guided by a structured framework (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42020176361). Of 4674 identified records, 26 studies were included. Twenty-six demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors associated with increased risk of stroke-related VTE after multivariable adjustments were identified. The following factors were reported by ≥2 studies: prior VTE, cancer, prestroke disability, leg weakness, increasing lesion volume of the brain infarct, infection, low Barthel Index, increasing length of hospital stay, biochemical indices of dehydration, as well as elevated levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and homocysteine. The majority of the studies were of poor quality with moderate or high risk of bias. In conclusion, this systematic review informs on several potential risk factors and predictors for VTE in people with ischemic stroke. To improve risk stratification and guide development of risk prediction models, further confirmation is needed because there were few high-quality studies on each factor.

Treatment with IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulins (IgM-IVIg) enhances clearance of stroke-associated bacterial lung infection

Post-stroke infection is a common complication of stroke that is associated with poor outcome. We previously reported that stroke induces an ablation of multiple sub-populations of B cells and reduces levels of IgM antibody, which coincides with the development of spontaneous bacterial pneumonia. The loss of IgM after stroke could be an important determinant of infection susceptibility and highlights this pathway as a target for intervention. We treated mice with a replacement dose of IgM-enriched intravenous immunoglobulin (IgM-IVIg) prior to and 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and allowed them to recover for 2 d or 5 d post-surgery. Treatment with IgM-IVIg enhanced bacterial clearance from the lung after MCAO and improved lung pathology but did not impact brain infarct volume. IgM-IVIg treatment induced immunomodulatory effects systemically, including rescue of splenic plasma B cell numbers and endogenous mouse IgM and IgA circulating immunoglobulin concentrations that were reduced by MCAO. Treatment attenuated MCAO-induced elevation of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lung. IgM-IVIg treatment did not increase the number of lung mononuclear phagocytes or directly modulate macrophage phagocytic capacity but enhanced phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus bioparticles in vitro. Low dose IgM-IVIg contributes to increased clearance of spontaneous lung bacteria after MCAO likely via increasing availability of antibody in the lung to enhance opsonophagocytic activity. Immunomodulatory effects of IgM-IVIg treatment may also contribute to reduced levels of damage in the lung after MCAO. IgM-IVIg shows promise as an antibacterial and immunomodulatory agent to use in the treatment of post-stroke infection.

Proinflammatory laboratory predictors of pneumonia in ischemic stroke patients: prospective study

Background. Bacterial pneumonia is a frequent complication of ischemic stroke at the hospital stage. The search for prognostic laboratory markers of pneumonia remains an urgent task, as it will allow to individualize the approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of such patients. Aim. To investigate the prognostic significance of proteins of the acute phase of inflammation, as well as to evaluate them as early predictors of the development of pneumonia in patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and methods. The study included 302 patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke. C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor , interleukin-6 (IL-6), neutrophil elastase, neopterin, serum amyloid A (SAA), secreted phospholipase type 2 (sPLA2) were determined in all patients on the first day by enzyme immunoassay. Statistical data processing was carried out using SPSS and Microsoft Excel software (USA). Results. At the hospital stage, pneumonia developed in 82/302 patients (27.2%; 95% confidence interval 22.332.3%). The levels of CRP, IL-6, sPLA2, SAA and neopterin significantly differed in the presence and absence of pneumonia. Step-by-step logistic regression analysis revealed the significance of IL-6 and CRP concentrations in the prognosis of pneumonia. The threshold value of IL-6 concentration was 3.45 pg/ml (sensitivity 82.4%, specificity 66.7%). The prognostic value of a positive result (PPR) in the prognosis of pneumonia was 40%, a negative result (PNR) 92%. The threshold value of CRP was 1640 mg/l with a sensitivity of 65.8% and a specificity of 74.8%. The PPR of the threshold value of the concentration of CRP was 45%, PNR 80%. Conclusion. The measurement of the concentration of IL-6 and CRP on the first day of ischemic stroke makes it possible to identify patients with the greatest risk of pneumonia at the hospital stage. The results of the work indicate the necessity to include CRP and IL-6 in the list of mandatory laboratory tests that should be carried out for each patient with ischemic stroke on the first day from the onset of the disease.

Pneumonia in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Proximal Occlusions within the Anterior Circulation after Endovascular Therapy or Systemic Thrombolysis

While endovascular treatment (ET) improves clinical outcomes in patients with proximal vessel occlusions compared to thrombolysis (IVT), the impact of ET on the frequency of stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is uncertain. We compared the rates of SAP in patients with large vessel occlusions in the anterior circulation after IVT or ET. We also determined risk factors for SAP, as well as the impact of SAP on early clinical outcomes. A total of 544 patients were treated with IVT, and 1061 patients received ET (with or without IVT). The rates of SAP did not differ significantly between ET (217/1061; 20%) and IVT (100/544; 18%) (p = 0.3). Overall, the occurrence of SAP was significantly associated with mortality and a poor clinical outcome. In the multivariable regression analysis, age, sex, the presence of dysphagia, early signs of ischemia on imaging and a history of stroke and mechanical ventilation were all significantly associated with the occurrence of SAP. In patients with large vessel occlusions, the introduction of ET did not result in lower rates of SAP compared with IVT. There is an ongoing need to reduce the rates of SAP in this patient population, for which the risk factors found here could become useful.

High Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio: A Novel Marker for Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia?

Background: Stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) is associated with poor prognosis after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the parameters of coagulation function and evaluate the association between the fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) and SAP in patients with AIS.

Patients and methods: A total of 932 consecutive patients with AIS were included. Coagulation parameters were measured at admission. All patients were classified into two groups according to the optimal cutoff FAR point at which the sum of the specificity and sensitivity was highest. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance potential confounding factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of SAP.

Results: A total of 100 (10.7%) patients were diagnosed with SAP. The data showed that fibrinogen, FAR, and D-dimer, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were higher in patients with SAP, while albumin was much lower. Patients with SAP showed a significantly increased FAR when compared with non-SAP (P < 0.001). Patients were assigned to groups of high FAR (≥0.0977) and low FAR (<0.0977) based on the optimal cut-off value. Propensity score matching analysis further confirmed the association between FAR and SAP. After adjusting for confounding and risk factors, multivariate regression analysis showed that the high FAR (≥0.0977) was an independent variable predicting the occurrence of SAP (odds ratio =2.830, 95% CI = 1.654–4.840, P < 0.001). In addition, the FAR was higher in the severe pneumonia group when it was assessed by pneumonia severity index (P = 0.008).

Conclusions: High FAR is an independent potential risk factor of SAP, which can help clinicians identify high-risk patients with SAP after AIS.

High Flow Nasal Cannula Decreased Pulmonary Complications in Neurologically Critically Ill Patients

Objective: Pulmonary complications could badly affect the recovery of neurological function and neurological prognosis of neurological critically ill patients. This study evaluated the effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy on decreasing pulmonary complications in neurologically critically ill patients.

Patients and Methods: The patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with serious neurological disease and receiving oxygen therapy were retrospectively reviewed (Ethical No. IRB2021-YX-001). Patients were divided into the HFNC group and the conventional oxygen therapy (COT) group. We analyzed the data within these two groups, including patients’ baseline data, short-term outcomes of respiratory complications, general outcomes including hospital stay, ICU stay and mortality, and neurological functions. To analyze the relevant factors, we performed multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 283 patients met the criteria, including 164 cases in the HFNC group and 119 cases in the COT group. The HFNC group had remarkably less mechanical ventilation requirement with lower phlegm viscosity. Even more, ICU stay and total hospital stay were significantly shortened in the HNFC group.

Conclusion: HFNC decreased pulmonary complications in neurologically critically ill patients and improved recovery of neurological function and neurological prognosis.

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Better Than High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Predicting Stroke-Associated Pneumonia in Afebrile Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the association between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) without fever and to clarify whether NLR has an advantage over high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in predicting SAP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 434 patients with AIS without fever were assessed in this study. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between NLR and SAP, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to compare the predictive value of NLR and hs-CRP.

RESULTS

Among the total patients, 18 (4.1%) developed SAP. After adjusting for confounders, NLR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-1.96; p < 0.001) remained independently associated with an increased risk of SAP. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) of NLR (0.862 [0.826-0.893]) was higher than that of hs-CRP (0.738 [0.694-0.779]).

CONCLUSION

We found that compared with hs-CRP, NLR was significantly associated with the occurrence of SAP in patients with AIS without fever and showed a more effective predictive value for SAP.

Association between out-of-bed mobilization and complications of immobility in acute phase of severe stroke: A retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Medical complications often occur, particularly in the acute phase of severe stroke, and lead to poor outcomes. However, it is unclear whether out-of-bed mobilization (OM) reduces such complications or not in the acute phase of severe stroke. Thus, we investigated the association between OM and complications of immobility in the acute phase of severe stroke.

METHODS

We enrolled 407 patients diagnosed with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage and patients with modified Rankin Scale 5 at discharge in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: OM (303 patients) and bed rest (BR; 104 patients) at discharge based on their medical records. Complications of immobility (such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection, pressure sore, and falls) during hospitalization in each group were recorded.

RESULTS

The total complication rate of immobility, incidence of pneumonia, and the incidence of pressure sores were significantly lower in the OM group than in the BR group [60.7% vs. 88.5%, 45.5% vs. 62.5%, and 3.6% vs. 12.5%; odds ratio, 0.20, 0.50, and 0.26; and 95% confidence intervals, 0.11-0.39, 0.32-0.79, and 0.11-0.61, respectively]. Urinary tract infection and falls did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In the acute phase of severe stroke, OM was significantly associated with a lower risk of total complication rate of immobility, incidence of pneumonia, and incidence of pressure sore without increasing falls.

Impaired consciousness at stroke onset in large hemisphere infarction: incidence, risk factors and outcome

Impaired consciousness (IC) at stroke onset in large hemispheric infarctions (LHI) patients is common in clinical practice. However, little is known about the incidence and risk factors of IC at stroke onset in LHI. Besides, stroke-related complications and clinical outcomes in relation to the development of IC has not been systematically examined. Data of 256 consecutive patients with LHI were collected. IC at stroke onset was retrospectively collected from the initial emergency department and/or admission records. Of the 256 LHI patients enrolled, 93 (36.3%) had IC at stroke onset. LHI patients with IC at stroke onset were older (median age 66 vs. 61, p = 0.041), had shorter prehospital delay (24 vs. 26 h, p < 0.001and higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (19 vs. 12, p < 0.001). Independent risk factors of IC at stroke onset were high NIHSS score (odds ratio, OR 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12 to 1.23) and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.47). Dyslipidemia appeared to protect against IC at stroke onset (adjusted OR 0.416, 95% CI 0.175 to 0.988). IC at stroke onset was associated with higher frequency of stroke-related complications (90.32% vs. 67.48%, p < 0.001), especially brain edema (45.16% vs. 23.31%, p < 0.001) and pneumonia (63.44% vs. 47.82%, p = 0.019). The IC group had higher rates of in-hospital death (23.66% vs. 11.66%, p = 0.012), 3-month mortality (49.46% vs. 24.87%, p = 0.002), and 3-month unfavorable outcome (64.51% vs. 49.07%, p = 0.017). However, after adjusting for age, baseline NIHSS score and other confounders, IC at stroke onset was not an independent predictor of in-hospital death (adjusted OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.22 to 1.47), 3-month mortality (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.14) and 3-month unfavorable outcome (adjusted OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.31 to 1.33) in LHI patients (all p > 0.05). Our results suggested that IC occur in 1 out of every 3 LHI patients at stroke onset and was associated with initial stroke severity and atrial fibrillation. LHI patients with IC at stroke onset more frequently had stroke-related complications, 3-month mortality and unfavorable outcome, whereas IC was not an independent predictor of poor outcomes.

Impact of Infection on the Risk of Recurrent Stroke Among Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Infection occurs commonly in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to investigate the association of infection with short- and long-term risk of recurrent stroke in patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS

Data were derived from ischemic stroke patients in 2 stroke registries: the CSCA (Chinese Stroke Center Alliance) program recorded medical data during hospitalization, and the CNSR-III (Third China National Stroke Registry) recorded the medical data during hospitalization and finished 1-year follow-up. Associations of infection (pneumonia or urinary tract infection) during hospitalization with recurrent stroke in short (during hospitalization) and long term (since 30 days to 1 year after stroke onset) were analyzed. Short-term outcomes were analyzed with logistic models and long-term outcomes with Cox models.

RESULTS

In the CSCA (n=789 596), the incidence of infection during hospitalization reached 9.6%. Patients with infection had a higher risk of stroke recurrence during hospitalization compared with patients without infection (10.4% versus 5.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.70 [95% CI, 1.65-1.75]; P<0.0001). In the CNSR-III (n=13 549), the incidence of infection during hospitalization was 6.5%. Infection during hospitalization was significantly associated with short-term risk of recurrent stroke (7.4% versus 3.9%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.05-1.86]; P=0.02) but not with long-term risk of recurrent stroke (7.2% versus 5.2%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.88-1.52]; P=0.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Infection was an independent risk factor for high risk of early stroke recurrence during hospitalization, but we have not found its sustained effect on long-term recurrent risk in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Evidence-Based Performance Measures and Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND

Stroke is the leading cause of death in China. Despite the wide dissemination of evidence-based guidelines, data about adherence to these in routine clinical practice are scarce. We conducted a study using a nationwide registry to evaluate the implementation of evidence-based stroke performance indicators and associated guidelines, for patients with an ischemic stroke in China.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The China National Stroke Registry is a prospective cohort study, including 12 416 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke from 132 hospitals across China, for 1 year beginning September 2007. Twelve performance indicators were selected to evaluate the quality of stroke care. Multivariable Cox models were used to determine the association between optimal compliance and clinical outcomes. Conformity with performance measures ranged from a median of 6.5% for the use of intravenous tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) to 81.8% for early use of antithrombotics. The optimal compliance with all in-hospital measures was associated with 1-year death after admission (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.55-0.79). The optimal compliance with all discharge measures was associated with the 1-year death after discharge (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44-0.69), 1-year stroke recurrence (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70-0.93), and favorable functional outcomes (defined as modified Rankin Scale score of ≤2) (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to evidence-based ischemic stroke care measures in China revealed substantial gaps, and select measures were associated with improved outcomes. These findings support the need for ongoing quality measurement and improvement in stroke care in China.

The risk factors for postoperative cerebral complications in patients with Stanford type a aortic dissection

Background

Postoperative cerebral complications (PCC) are common and serious postoperative complications for patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for PCC in these patients and to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention of PCC.

Methods

In this retrospective case-control study, 125 patients with AAD who underwent thoracotomy in our department from October 2017 to October 2018 in the department of cardiovascular surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were divided into two groups: patients with PCC (n = 12), and patients without PCC (n = 113). The general clinical data, the types of corrective surgeries, the intraoperative situations, the postoperative complications, and the midterm outcomes of the patients were analyzed.

Results

The patients with PCC were significantly older than the patients without PCC (P = 0.016), and the incidence of the preoperative cerebral disease history in the patients with PCC was significantly higher than those of the PCC (−) group (P = 0.024). The Euro SCORE II of patients with PCC was dramatically higher than the patients without PCC (P = 0.005). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (P = 0.010) and the length of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) combined with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) (P = 0.000). The monitoring of rcSO₂ indicated that there was significant difference between the two groups in terms of the bilateral baseline (P = 0.000). Patients with PCC were observed to have experienced significantly longer intubation times (P = 0.000), ICU stays (P = 0.001), and postoperative hospital stays (P = 0.009), and they also had dramatically higher rates of pulmonary infection (P = 0.000), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (P = 0.041) and tracheotomy (P = 0.022) after surgeries. The duration of MHCA+SCP (OR:9.009, P = 0.034) and the average baseline value of rcSO₂ (OR:0.080, P = 0.009) were ultimately identified as significant risk factors.

Conclusions

PCC has a serious influence on the prognoses of patients following surgical treatment with AAD. The duration of MHCA+SCP and the average baseline value of rcSO₂ were the independent risk factors for PCC.

Hospital-Level Variations in Rates of Inpatient Urinary Tract Infections in Stroke

Background and purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common complications following stroke and has prognostic significance. UTI rates have been shown to vary between hospitals, but it is unclear whether this is due to case-mix differences or heterogeneities in care among hospitals.

Methods: A prospective multi-center cohort study of acute stroke patients admitted to eight National Health Service (NHS) acute hospital trusts within the Anglia Stroke & Heart Clinical Network between 2009 and 2011 was conducted. We modeled the association between hospital (as a fixed-effect) and inpatient UTI using a multivariable logistic regression model, adjusting for established patient-level risk factors. We graphically and descriptively analyzed heterogeneities in hospital-level characteristics.

Results: We included 2,241 stroke admissions in our analysis; 171 (7.6%) acquired UTI as an inpatient. UTI rates varied significantly between the eight hospitals, ranging from 3 to 11%. The hospital that had the lowest odds of UTI [odds ratio (OR) = 0.50 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22–.11)] in adjusted analysis, had the highest number of junior doctors and occupational therapists per five beds of all hospitals. The hospital with the highest adjusted UTI rate [OR=2.69 (1.56–4.64)] was tertiary, the largest and had the highest volume of stroke patients, lowest number of stroke unit beds per 100 admissions, and the highest number of hospital beds per CT scanner.

Conclusions: There is hospital-level variation in post-stroke UTI. Our results suggest the potential influence of service characteristics independently of patient-level factors which may be amenable to be addressed to improve the ultimate stroke outcome.

Factors affecting the occurrence of gastrointestinal bleeding in acute ischemic stroke patients

Gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) is a common complication that occurs after stroke, and GIB may negatively affect patient prognosis. In this study, we aimed to examine:(1) the risk factors of GIB in acute cerebral infarction patients;(2) association between GIB and 1-year mortality in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Patients with acute cerebral infarction were divided into 2 groups based on the occurrence of GIB during acute stroke stage. Patient characteristics, clinical presentation, stroke risk factors, comorbidities, laboratory data, medication, and outcomes were investigated to analyze the associations between the variables and the probability of having GIB. In addition, patients in the study were matched individually by age, gender. A 1:1 matched case-control method and conditional logistic regression models for single and multiple factors were used to assess the risk factors of GIB in acute cerebral infarction patients.Clinical data of patients with acute cerebral infarction were reviewed and analyzed during the years 2015 and 2016. Finally, 1662 patients with acute cerebral infarction were included in this study, of whom 139 (8.5%) patients had GIB at admission. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factors for GIB in patients with acute cerebral infarction were advanced age (OR = 1.030, P = .009), low Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) score (OR = 0.850, P = .014), infection (OR = 4.693, P < .001), high NIHSS score (OR = 1.114, P = .001), and posterior circulation infarction (OR = 4.981, P = .010). The case-control study ultimately included 136 case-control pairs. Stepwise conditional regression analyses revealed that the independent risk factors for GIB in patients with acute cerebral infarction were low Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC) score (RR = 0.645, P = .011), infection (RR = 15.326, P = .001), and posterior circulation infarction (RR = 6.129, P = .045). The group with GIB had a higher rate of mortality and disability level (mRS grade ≥ 4) than the group without GIB (P < .001) within 1 year after stroke. In addition, independent risk factors of death within 1 year after stroke in patients were GIB (OR = 6.096, P < .001), infection (OR = 4.493, P < .001), mRS grade ≥ 4 (OR = 4.129, P < .001), and coronary heart disease (OR = 3.718, P = .001).GIB is a common complication after ischemic stroke. These identified factors may help clinicians identify risks of GIB before it develops. GIB is associated with increased risk of 1-year mortality and poor functional outcome in acute cerebral infarction patients.

Frequency of post-stroke pneumonia: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Background

Post-stroke pneumonia and other infectious complications are serious conditions whose frequency varies widely across studies.

Aims

We conducted a systematic review to estimate the frequency of post-stroke pneumonia and other types of major infection.

Summary of review

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for prospective studies with consecutive recruitment of stroke patients. The primary outcome was post-stroke pneumonia. Secondary outcomes were any infection and urinary tract infection. Quality assessment was done using Newcastle Ottawa scale. Heterogeneity of estimates across study populations was calculated using Cochran's Q (heterogeneity χ2) and I2 statistics. A total of 47 studies (139,432 patients) with 48 sample populations were eligible for inclusion. Mean age of patients was 68.3 years and their mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score was 8.2. The pooled frequency of post-stroke pneumonia was 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11%–13.6%; I2 = 98%). The pooled frequency from 2011 to 2017 was 13.5% (95% CI 11.8%–15.3%; I2 = 98%) and comparable with earlier periods (P interaction = 0.31). The pooled frequency in studies in stroke units was 8% (95% CI 7.1%–9%; I2 = 78%) and significantly lower than other locations (P interaction = 0.001). The pooled frequency of post-stroke infection was 21% (95% CI 13%–29.3%; I2 = 99%) and of post-stroke urinary tract infection was 7.9% (95% CI 6.7%–9.3%; I2 = 96%).

Conclusion

Approximately 1 in 10 stroke patients experience pneumonia during the acute period of hospital care. The frequency of post-stroke pneumonia has remained stable in recent decades but is lower in patients receiving stroke unit care compared to management in other ward settings.

Risk Factors and Clinical Impact of Delayed Cerebral Ischemia after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Analysis from the China National Stroke Registry

BACKGROUND

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. While it is important to detect early signs of DCI, patients with high risk of DCI are difficult to identify, and the potential risk factors are uncertain. This study aimed to identify independent risk factors of DCI and clarify their clinical impact on outcome and the disease course.

METHODS

For this nationwide, multicenter, prospective clinical study involving consecutive patients with aSAH recruited from the China National Stroke Registry, demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratorial data during hospitalisation, in-hospital complications, functional outcomes, and mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months were recorded. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to determine risk factors associated with the development of DCI, the contribution of DCI to short- and long-term outcomes was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of all 504 patients with aSAH, 155 developed DCI. Multivariate analysis revealed that being female, a history of diabetes mellitus, a Hunt and Hess grade of 4-5, and a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade of IV-V were independent risk factors of DCI. DCI was associated with high in-hospital complications, and with a high utilization rate of supporting interventions. DCI also contributed to poorer functional outcome and higher mortality at discharge and after 3, 6, and 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Female sex, a history of diabetes mellitus, and poor clinical grade are independent early risk factors for the development of DCI and can contribute to a better identification of patients at a high risk for DCI. DCI was associated with severe clinical course, poor outcome, and mortality both in the short- and long-term in patients with aSAH in China.

Impact of intravenous thrombolysis on length of hospital stay in cases of acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

There are limited data available on factors associated with length of stay (LOS) in cases of acute ischemic stroke according to Poisson analysis, which is more appropriate than other methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical summary charts of patients with acute ischemic stroke in 30 hospitals across northeast Thailand, with the main outcome as LOS. Poisson regression was used to examine factors associated with LOS.

RESULTS

We included 898 patients in the analysis; 460 (51.2%) were male. The median age (interquartile; IQR) was 58 (67-75) years and the median LOS was 5 (4-7) days. The median National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS [IQR]) was 8 (4-13). Results of the analysis showed that, after controlling for age, stroke severity, atrial fibrillation, and thrombolytic use, significant variables associated with LOS were moderate stroke (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.15 [range 1.01-1.30], P=0.040), severe stroke (IRR [95% CI] =1.27 [1.09-1.47], P=0.002), thrombolytic use (IRR [95% CI] =0.68 [0.60-0.76], P<0.001), and atrial fibrillation (IRR [95% CI] =1.15 [1.02-1.30], P=0.023). After adjusting for complications, thrombolytic use remained significantly associated with decreased LOS (IRR [95% CI] =0.74 [0.67-0.83], P=0.001). Other significant factors were atrial fibrillation (IRR [95% CI] =1.14 [1.02-1.28], P=0.018), pneumonia (IRR [95% CI] =1.48 [1.30-1.68], P<0.001), and urinary tract infection (IRR [95% CI] =1.41 [1.14-1.74], P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

According to Poisson analysis, intravenous thrombolysis, atrial fibrillation, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection are associated with LOS in cases of acute ischemic stroke, regardless of age, stroke severity, comorbidities, or complications.

Risk of developing pleural empyema in patients with stroke: a propensity-matched cohort study

Pleural empyema is an important complication of pneumonia. Patients with stroke are at a higher risk developing pneumonia; however, the association between stroke and pleural empyema risk is largely unknown. We used the data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan to establish a stroke group consisting of 466,170 patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2010, and a non-stroke group consisting of the same number of individuals matched by the propensity score. Incident pleural empyema was monitored toward the end of 2011. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of pleural empyema in the stroke group, compared to the non-stroke group, were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. We found that the incidence of pleural empyema is 2.69-fold higher in the stroke group than in the non-stroke group (15.2 vs. 5.59/10,000 person-years, p < 0.001), with an aHR of 2.89 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.72-3.08]. Further analysis reveals the aHRs of pleural empyema to be 2.62 (95% CI = 2.45-2.79) in patients with ischemic stroke and 4.53 (95% CI = 4.14-4.95) in patients with hemorrhagic stroke compared with those without stroke. In addition, we observe that stroke patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt implantation exhibit more than sevenfold risk for developing of pleural empyema. In conclusion, patients with stroke are at an elevated risk of developing pleural empyema. The risk is greater for those with hemorrhagic stroke than for those with ischemic stroke. The risk increases further for patients who undergo VP shunt implantation.

Noninfectious complications of acute stroke and their impact on hospital mortality in patients admitted to a stroke unit in Warsaw from 1995 to 2015

BACKGROUND

Medical complications often worsen the prognosis after stroke. Our aim was to investigate the association between particular noninfectious complications and hospital mortality of acute stroke patients admitted to an urban Polish stroke center, and changes in their occurrence from 1995 to 2015.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of 5174 consecutive patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke or cerebral hemorrhage to a Polish urban stroke center between 1995 and 2015. The occurrence of complications was reported for years 1995-2000 (n=883), 2001-2006 (n=1567), 2006-2010 (n=1539) and 2011-2015 (n=1183). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for stroke unit death were calculated after adjustment for age, congestive heart failure (CHF), pre-existing disability, stroke type and baseline neurological deficit in three different time periods.

RESULTS

Over time there was a significant decrease in the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) (2.2%, 1.4%, 1.0% and 0.3%, respectively), exacerbated CHF (4.6%, 5.1%, 2.6% and 2.0%) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (4.6%, 2.7%, 1.2% and 1.1%). Adjusted odds for stroke unit death were increased by myocardial infarction (MI) (OR 17.5, 95% CI: 8.5-35.7), exacerbated CHF (OR 15.0, 95% CI: 9.8-23.0), pulmonary embolism (PE) (OR 11.5, 95% CI: 6.1-21.6), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 9.2, 95% CI: 4.4-18.9) and recurrent stroke (OR 5.4, 95% CI: 3.1-9.3).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the last two decades Polish urban stroke units may have achieved a significant reduction of the occurrence of some noninfectious complications (i.e. MI, exacerbated CHF and DVT). However, the list of conditions associated with stroke unit mortality includes not only MI and exacerbated CHF but also PE, gastrointestinal bleeding and recurrent stroke.

Impact of Infection on Stroke Morbidity and Outcomes

Each year, millions of persons worldwide are disabled by stroke. The burden of stroke is expected to increase as a consequence of growth in our elderly population. Outcome is dependent upon limitation of secondary medical processes in the acute setting that lead to deterioration and increased long-term disability. The prevalence of infection after stroke is greater that seen in other medical conditions with similar acuity and its impact upon morbidity and mortality is substantial. Physical impairment and immune modulation are chief determinants in rate of infection after stroke. Each of these factors has been a target for therapeutic intervention. Current best practices for acute stroke management implement strategies for prevention, prompt identification, and treatment of infection. Novel therapies are currently being explored which have the opportunity to greatly minimize infectious complications following stroke. Fever commonly accompanies infection and independently influences stroke outcome. Targeted temperature management provides an additional chance to improve stroke recovery.

Infections Up to 76 Days After Stroke Increase Disability and Death

Early infection after stroke is associated with a poor outcome. We aimed to determine whether delayed infections (up to 76 days post-stroke) are associated with poor outcome at 90 days. Data came from the international Efficacy of Nitric Oxide Stroke (ENOS, ISRCTN99414122) trial. Post hoc data on infections were obtained from serious adverse events reports between 1 and 76 days following stroke in this large cohort of patients. Regression models accounting for baseline covariates were used to analyse fatalities and functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index, Euro-Qol-5D) at 90 days, in patients with infection compared to those without infection. Of 4011 patients, 242 (6.0%) developed one or more serious infections. Infections were associated with an increased risk of death (p < 0.001) and an increased likelihood of dependency (measured by mRS) compared to those of all other patients (p < 0.001). This remained when only surviving patients were analysed, indicating that the worsening of functional outcome is not due to mortality (p < 0.001). In addition, the timing of the infection after stroke did not alter its detrimental association with fatality (p = 0.14) or functional outcome (p = 0.47). In conclusion, severe post-stroke infections, whether occurring early or late after stroke, are associated with an increased risk of death and poorer functional outcome, independent of differences in baseline characteristics or treatment. Not only are strategies needed for reducing the risk of infection immediately after stroke, but also during the first 3 months following a stroke. This study is registered: ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN99414122, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT00989716.

Histamine H2-Blocker and Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and the Risk of Pneumonia in Acute Stroke: A Retrospective Analysis on Susceptible Patients

BACKGROUND

Although histamine H2-blockers (H2B) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are used commonly to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in acute stroke, they are implicated in the increased risk of pneumonia in other disease populations. In acute stroke, the presence of distinctive risk factors of pneumonia, including dysphagia and impaired consciousness, makes inclusive analysis vulnerable to confounding. Our aim was to assess whether acid-suppressive drugs increase pneumonia in acute stroke in a population controlled for confounding.

METHODS

We analyzed acute stroke patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital. To minimize confounding, we only included subjects who could not feed orally during 14 days of hospitalization. Exposure was defined as H2B or PPI, given in days; the outcome was development of pneumonia within this period. The incidence was calculated from the total number of pneumonias divided by the sum of person-days at risk. We additionally performed multivariate Poisson regression and propensity score analyses, although the restriction largely eliminated the need for multivariate adjustment.

RESULTS

A total of 132 pneumonias occurred in 3582 person-days. The incidence was 3.69%/person-day (95% confidence interval (CI); 3.03-4.37%/day). All subjects had dysphagia. Stroke severity and consciousness disturbances were well-balanced between the groups exposed to H2B, PPI, or none. The relative risk (RR) compared with the unexposed was 1.22 in H2B (95%CI; 0.83-1.81) and 2.07 in PPI (95% CI; 1.13-3.62). The RR of PPI compared with H2B was 1.69 (95%CI; 0.95-2.89). In multivariate regression analysis, the RRs of H2B and PPI were 1.24 (95% CI; 0.85-1.81) and 2.00 (95% CI; 1.12-3.57), respectively; in propensity score analyses they were 1.17 (95% CI; 0.89-1.54) and 2.13 (95% CI; 1.60-2.84).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggested that prophylactic acid-suppressive therapy with PPI may have to be avoided in acute stroke patients susceptible to pneumonia.

External Validation of the Prestroke Independence, Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score for Predicting Pneumonia After Stroke Using Data From the China National Stroke Registry

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pneumonia is an important risk factor for mortality and morbidity after stroke. The Prestroke Independence, Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ISAN) score was shown to be a useful tool for predicting stroke-associated pneumonia based on UK multicenter cohort study. We aimed to externally validate the score using data from the China National Stroke Registry (CNSR).

METHODS

Eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the CNSR from 2007 to 2008 were included. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve was used to evaluate discrimination. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test and Pearson correlation coefficient were performed to assess calibration of the model.

RESULTS

A total of 19,333 patients (AIS = 14400; ICH = 4933) were included and the overall pneumonia rate was 12.7%. The AUC was .76 (95% confidence interval [CI]: .75-.78) for the subgroup of AIS and .70 (95% CI: .68-.72) for the subgroup of ICH. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed the ISAN score with the good calibration for AIS and ICH (P = .177 and .405, respectively). The plot of observed versus predicted pneumonia rates suggested higher correlation for patients with AIS than with ICH (Pearson correlation coefficient = .99 and .83, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The ISAN score was a useful tool for predicting in-hospital pneumonia after acute stroke, especially for patients with AIS. Further validations need to be done in different populations.

The Efficacy of Prophylactic Antibiotics on Post-Stroke Infections: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Post-stroke infections are common complications in acute stroke patients and are associated with an unfavorable functional outcome. However, reports on the effects of prophylactic antibiotics treatment on post-stroke infections are conflicting, especially those on post-stroke pneumonia and outcomes. We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Knowledge databases up through March 11^th, 2016. Seven randomized controlled trials including 4261 patients were analyzed among this systematic review and meta-analysis. We found preventive antibiotics treatment at the time of stroke onset did reduce the incidence of infections in adults with acute stroke (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.38–0.85, P = 0.005), including reducing the number of urinary tract infections (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.26–0.46, P < 0.001), but did not significantly decrease the rate of post-stroke pneumonia (OR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.73–1.13, P = 0.385). Importantly, antibiotics treatment also showed no significant effect on the number of fatalities among stroke patients (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90–1.26, P = 0.743) and functional outcome scores on the modified Rankin Scale (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 0.86–3.63, p = 0.124). Our study indicated that preventive antibiotics treatment not reduced the rate of post-stroke pneumonia or mortality, even though decreased the risk of infections, especially urinary tract infections. Thus, preventive antibiotics treatment may not be recommended for acute stroke patients.

Post-stroke pneumonia at the stroke unit - a registry based analysis of contributing and protective factors

BACKGROUND

To investigate prevalence and risk factors for post stroke pneumonia (PSP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated at stroke units (SU).

METHOD

We analysed data from the Austrian Stroke Unit registry concerning admissions from January 2003 to December 2013 and assessed the prevalence of PSP at the stroke unit. Patients with and without PSP were compared in univariate and multivariate models searching for factors associated with the occurrence of PSP at the SU.

RESULTS

Three thousand one hundred eleven patients (5.2%) of 59,558 analysed patients were diagnosed with PSP. While age and stroke severity were non-modifiable factors associated with PSP, modifiable risk factors included chronic alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation. Patients who developed neurological, cardiac, and other infective complications showed a higher prevalence of PSP, an increased prevalence was also found in connection with the placement of nasogastric tubes or urinary catheters. Female sex, left hemispheric stroke, cryptogenic stroke pathogenesis and additionally, treatment with lipid lowering drugs were factors associated with a lower PSP prevalence.

CONCLUSION

Pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke is associated with a variety of modifiable and unmodifiable factors that allow to identify patients at high risk of developing PSP and to focus on early preventive measures at the SU. Further studies could use the results of this study to explore potential benefits of specific interventions targeted at these factors.

Intravenous thrombolysis is more safe and effective for posterior circulation stroke: Data from the Thrombolysis Implementation and Monitor of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China (TIMS-China)

We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase for anterior circulation stroke (ACS) and posterior circulation stroke (PCS). From a large multicenter prospective registry-the Thrombolysis Implementation and Monitor of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China database-all patients who received IVT within 4.5 hours after stroke onset was reviewed. According to the clinical presentations and imaging findings, the eligible patients were divided into ACS and PCS groups. The safety and efficacy outcome measures included post-IVT symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), parenchymal hematoma, and all intracranial hemorrhage (aICH) within 7 days, mortality within 90 days, excellent recovery (modified Rankin Scale 0-1), and functional independence (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) at 90 days. For comparing the outcomes between both groups, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the adjusted ORs with 95% CIs were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Of 953 patients enrolled, 829 patients had ACS and 124 had PCS. The patients with PCS had less often atrial fibrillation (11.3% vs 19.8%; P = 0.02), higher blood glucose level (8.31 vs 7.63 mmol/L; P = 0.02), and more white blood cell counts (8.79 vs 7.75 × 10/L; P = 0.001) than those with ACS. After adjustment for the potential confounders, multivariate logistic analysis showed that PCS patients had not only lower rates of sICH (3.2% vs 7.7%; OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.09-0.90), parenchymal hematoma (1.6% vs 9.2%; OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.03-0.57), and aICH (8.1% vs 20.4%; OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.12-0.54), but also higher proportions of excellent recovery (55.7% vs 41.6%; OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.42-3.61) and functional independence (63.9% vs 53.0%; OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.40-3.89) compared with ACS patients. However, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of mortality (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.39-1.91) between both groups in the multivariate model, although more PCS patients seemed to die within 90 days than did ACS patients (15.6% vs 10.1%; OR 1.64, 95% CI 0.96-2.82) in the univariate analysis. Our study suggests that IVT with alteplase is more safe and effective for PCS.

Risk of Stroke-Associated Pneumonia With Acid-Suppressive Drugs: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Acid-suppressive drugs, including histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are common medications used for treating upper gastrointestinal tract disorders. However, acid-suppressive drugs have been reported to increase the risk of pneumonia in numerous disease populations. However, the relationship between acid-suppressive drugs and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between acid-suppressive drug usage and pneumonia among patients with stroke by using a nationwide data set. A population-based cohort study was conducted using a data set from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Data on patients with new-onset stroke from 2010 to 2011 were collected. Patients with and without acid-suppressive drug usage were followed up to identify the occurrence of any type of pneumonia. We estimated the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) by using the Cox proportional hazards model. The study cohort comprised 7965 patients with new-onset stroke. The incidence of pneumonia was 6.9% (552/7965) and more than 40% (225/552) of patients developed pneumonia within 3 months after an acute stroke. Acid-suppressive drug usage was an independent risk factor of pneumonia. The adjusted HR for the risk of pneumonia in patients with new-onset stroke using acid-suppressive drugs was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-1.75, P < 0.01). Only PPI usage increased risk of chronic SAP (adjusted HR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.04-2.05). Acid-suppressive drug usage was associated with a slightly increased risk of SAP. Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing acid-suppressive drugs to patients with stroke, particularly at the chronic stage.

Aspiration-related acute respiratory distress syndrome in acute stroke patient

Background

Aspiration of oral or gastric contents into the larynx and lower respiratory tract is a common problem in acute stroke patients, which significantly increases the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, little is known about the clinical characteristics of aspiration-related ARDS in acute stroke patients.

Methods

Over 17-month period a retrospective cohort study was done on 1495 consecutive patients with acute stroke. The data including demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, chest imaging, and hospital discharge status were collected to analysis.

Results

Aspiration-related ARDS was diagnosed in 54 patients (3.6%). The most common presenting symptom was tachypnea (respiratory rate ≥25 breaths/min) in 50 cases. Computed tomography (CT) images usually demonstrated diffuse ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and inhomogeneous patchy consolidations involving the low lobes. Age, NIHSS score, GCS score, dysphagia, dysarthria, hemoglobin concentration, serum aspertate aminotransferase (AST), serum albumin, serum sodium, and admission glucose level were independently associated with aspiration-related ARDS (odds ratio (OR) 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.04–1.07); OR 2.87, (2.68–3.63); OR 4.21, (3.57–5.09); OR 2.18, (1.23–3.86); OR 1.67, (1.31–2.14); OR 2.31, (1.11–4.84); OR 1.68, (1.01–2.80); OR 2.15, (1.19–3.90); OR 1.92, (1.10–3.36) and OR 1.14, (1.06–1.21) respectively).

Conclusions

Aspiration-related ARDS frequently occurs in acute stroke patient with impairment consciousness. It is advisable that performing chest CT timely may identify disease early and prompt treatment to rescue patients.

Can a novel clinical risk score improve pneumonia prediction in acute stroke care? A UK multicenter cohort study

Background

Pneumonia frequently complicates stroke and has a major impact on outcome. We derived and internally validated a simple clinical risk score for predicting stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP), and compared the performance with an existing score (A²DS²).

Methods and Results

We extracted data for patients with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme multicenter UK registry. The data were randomly allocated into derivation (n=11 551) and validation (n=11 648) samples. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to the derivation data to predict SAP in the first 7 days of admission. The characteristics of the score were evaluated using receiver operating characteristics (discrimination) and by plotting predicted versus observed SAP frequency in deciles of risk (calibration). Prevalence of SAP was 6.7% overall. The final 22‐point score (ISAN: prestroke Independence [modified Rankin scale], Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) exhibited good discrimination in the ischemic stroke derivation (C‐statistic 0.79; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.81) and validation (C‐statistic 0.78; 95% CI 0.76 to 0.80) samples. It was well calibrated in ischemic stroke and was further classified into meaningful risk groups (low 0 to 5, medium 6 to 10, high 11 to 14, and very high ≥15) associated with SAP frequencies of 1.6%, 4.9%, 12.6%, and 26.4%, respectively, in the validation sample. Discrimination for both scores was similar, although they performed less well in the intracerebral hemorrhage patients with an apparent ceiling effect.

Conclusions

The ISAN score is a simple tool for predicting SAP in clinical practice. External validation is required in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke cohorts.

Atrial Fibrillation Is an Independent Risk Factor for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Patients who were hospitalized for community-based pneumonia frequently had pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) and had subsequent cardiovascular complications. Whether patients who had AF would be susceptible to the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a serious concern but this has not been investigated. In our clinics, we have made empirical observation of such susceptibility.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between newly developed HAP and pre-existing AF, and to identify whether AF is an independent risk factor for HAP.

METHODS

Hospital data from 8657 sequentially admitted inpatients [1059 patients with AF and 7598 without AF (NAF)] were collected from the Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011. Exclusion criteria were: having previous or current pneumonia, pacemakers, sick sinus syndrome and repeated hospitalization. The incidence of HAP (within 48 hours after hospitalization) was identified among all the patients.

RESULTS

Among the AF patients, 274 had HAP (adjusted rate 25.64%) which was significantly higher than the 276 NAF patients who had HAP (adjusted rate 3.66%; P<0.001). The increased risk was also associated with high blood pressure, heart failure and age, but not with gender, smoking, coronary heart disease, diabetes, congenital heart disease. In addition, our multiple regression analysis indicates that AF is an independent risk factor for HAP.

CONCLUSION

We have identified, for the first time, that AF is an important risk factor for HAP. Although additional clinical confirmation is needed, our data provide valuable evidence for use in prevention of HAP which is the most common cause of death from nosocomial infection.

Association between seizures and outcomes among intracerebral hemorrhage patients: the China National Stroke Registry

BACKGROUND

To determine whether the presence of seizures in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was associated with in-hospital complications and measured outcomes.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study from the China National Stroke Registry included consecutive patients with ICH between August 2007 and September 2008. In-hospital complications, functional outcomes, and mortality at 3, 6, and 12 months were compared between patients with seizures and those without seizures occurring at ICH onset and during hospitalization. Poor functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score between 3 and 6. Poor functional outcome and mortality were stratified by stroke severity using Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission.

RESULTS

The study included 3216 patients with ICH and 139 of them (4.3%) experienced seizures. The presence of seizures was associated with high in-hospital complications including atrial fibrillation (P = .004), pneumonia (P = .001), as well as lower rehabilitation assessment rates (P = .033) compared with patients without seizures. ICH patients with seizures had poorer functional outcome at 3-month (P = .012), 6-month (P = .007), and 12-month (P = .001) follow-up. They also had higher mortality at 3 months (P = .045), 6 months (P = .005), and 12 months (P = .002). Patients with mild strokes had poorer functional outcome and higher mortality (P < .005) if seizures occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of seizures in patients with ICH was associated with high in-hospital complications and indicates poor outcomes at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Quality improvement strategies targeting ICH patients with seizures especially mild stroke may help improve prognoses.

Population-based cohort study on the risk of pneumonia in patients with non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage who use proton pump inhibitors

OBJECTIVES

This nationwide cohort study investigated the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) usage and the risk of pneumonia in patients with non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage (ICH).

DESIGN

Nationwide population-based cohort study.

SETTING

Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 (LHID2010) sampled from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

PARTICIPANTS

4644 patients with non-traumatic ICH from 2010 to 2011 were identified. Patients aged <18 years and newly diagnosed with non-traumatic ICH complicated with pneumonia during the same admission period were excluded. A total of 2170 participants were eligible for the final analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Patients using PPIs or not during the study period were tracked to identify the occurrence of any type of pneumonia.

RESULTS

The adjusted HR of the risk of pneumonia for ICH patients who used PPIs was 1.61 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.97, p<0.001). The risk of pneumonia was positively associated with the administration of PPIs. We observed a greater risk of pneumonia in patients who used PPIs than in those who did not. Moreover, we observed that the risk of pneumonia in patients who used PPIs was 2.60 and 2.04 (95% CI 2.01 to 3.38, p<0.001; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.10, p<0.001) greater than that in patients who did not use PPIs when the defined daily dose was <30 and 30-60, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that the use of PPIs in patients with non-traumatic ICH is associated with an increased risk of pneumonia, and the severity of this risk depends on the defined daily dose. Physicians should exercise caution when prescribing PPIs for patients with non-traumatic ICH.

Gastrointestinal complications after ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, and currently the leading cause of adult disability in developed countries. Stroke is associated with various non-neurological medical complications, including infections and thrombosis. Gastrointestinal complications after stroke are also common, with over half of all stroke patients presenting with dysphagia, constipation, fecal incontinence or gastrointestinal bleeding. These complications are associated with increased hospital length of stay, the development of further complications and even increased mortality. In this article we review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and prevention of the most common gastrointestinal complications associated with ischemic stroke.