Associations Between Measures of Disability and Quality of Life at Three Months After Stroke

Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS), which measures degree of disability in daily activities, is the most common outcome measure in stroke research. Quality of life (QoL), however, is impacted by factors other than disability. The goal of this study was to assess the correlation between functional dependence and a more patient-centered QoL measure, the European QoL visual analog scale (EQ VAS). Methods: We reviewed prehospital and hospital records from 11 acute care hospitals in Seattle, Washington (USA) from June 2000 to January 2003 for this cohort study. Patients with a final diagnosis of stroke were contacted three to four months after stroke, and mRS and EQ VAS were assessed. Good QoL was defined as EQ VAS ≥65. Results: Of 760 patients with stroke, 346 were available at three to four months. Most (296, 85.5%) had ischemic stroke. Overall, mRS and QoL were negatively correlated (Spearman's ρ -0.53, p < 0.001). Percentage of good QoL decreased as mRS increased from 0 to 5 (88%, 70%, 52%, 50%, 31%, 20%, respectively, p < 0.001). However, 36% (n = 62) of patients with dependent mRS (3-5, n = 174) reported good QoL, and 30% (n = 52) of patients with independent mRS (0-2, n = 172) reported poor QoL. In multivariable analysis, older age, male gender, and absence of dementia, were associated with good QoL despite dependent mRS; atrial fibrillation was associated with poor QoL despite independent mRS. Conclusions: QoL decreases with increasing mRS, but exceptions exist with good QoL despite high mRS. To provide patient-centered care, clinicians and researchers should avoid equating disability with QoL after stroke.

Seizures after decompressive hemicraniectomy for ischaemic stroke

OBJECTIVE

The risk of seizures after malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction with decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is uncertain. Also unknown is how this complication influences survivors' recovery and quality of life.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical charts of all patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center between 1 January 2002 and 31 June 2011 for space-occupying MCA ischaemic stroke and who underwent DHC. Survivors and their surrogates were invited to participate in a telephone or in-person interview.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients were followed for a median of 311 days (IQR 134-727). Twenty-seven patients (49%) had seizures, 25 (45%) developed epilepsy and 21 (38%) achieved moderate disability or better (modified Rankin Scale score ≤3) by 1 year after stroke onset. The only factor significantly associated with seizure occurrence was male gender. Median time from stroke to first seizure was 222 days, with a cluster of first seizures within weeks after cranioplasty; only two of the first seizures occurred right around the time of stroke onset. Follow-up time was significantly longer for patients with seizures (605 days, IQR 297-882) than for those without (221 days, IQR 104-335). Of the 20 patients interviewed, 12 achieved moderate disability or better, 15 experienced a seizure with 6 indicating the seizure was a major drawback. Regardless, all 20 would have chosen DHC again.

CONCLUSIONS

In this case series, patients were at high risk of developing seizures after malignant MCA stroke with DHC, especially after cranioplasty. Assuming these findings are replicated, means should be sought to reduce the occurrence of this complication.

Abstract WP377: Outcome After Stroke - “Good” Or “Poor”?

Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a commonly used instrument to measure outcome in stroke research and is often dichotomized into good and poor outcome. Quality of life (QoL) is likely affected by factors besides level of disability. The goal of this study was to assess the correlation between the mRS and a more patient-centered QOL measure, the European QoL visual analog scale (EQVAS).

Methods: The Medic One Stroke Study reviewed pre-hospital and hospital records from 11 acute care hospitals in the Seattle area from June 2000-January 2003. Subjects with a final hospital diagnosis of stroke were telephoned 3-4 months after stroke onset and both mRS (0-6, with 0 the best) and EQ VAS (0-100 with 100 best) were assessed.

Results: We identified 574 patients with stroke: 420 ischemic stroke (IS), 121 intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) and 33 subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). At three months after discharge, the proportion with mRS of ≤ 3 varied significantly with stroke type: 50% IS, 20% IPH, and 27% SAH (p<0.001). Similarly, good quality of life, defined as EuroQoL ≥ 75, occurred in 48% IS, 25% IPH, and 27% SAH (p<0.001). Spearman’s rho showed a strong correlation of 0.89 (p<0.001) between mRS and EuroQoL. Likelihood of good QoL progressively decreased with increasing mRS (82%, 58%, 33%, 31%, 21%, 11% for mRS 0-5, respectively, p<0.001), yet a number of patients with high mRS (4,5) still reported good QoL (16/102 = 16%). Among patients with low mRS (0,1), 32% did not achieve good QoL.

Conclusion: Following stroke, QoL decreases with increasing mRS, but exceptions exist with good QoL despite high mRS scores. In the endeavor to advance patient-centeredness as a core component of quality health care, factors other than disability need further exploration, both by researchers doing clinical trials as well as by physicians making treatment recommendations.

Abstract WMP64: Prehospital Triage To Comprehensive Stroke Centers: GCS Identifies Patients At Increased Risk For Death, ICH, Or SAH

INTRODUCTION: Regionalization of stroke care is occurring nationwide, but evidence-based criteria for prehospital triage to comprehensive stroke centers are lacking. We assessed the hypothesis that a prehospital clinical decision rule can identify a group of patients more likely to require comprehensive stroke services--those with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, ICH, or SAH.

METHODS: This study represents a retrospective cohort of patients seen by an urban EMS system from 2000-2003. Subjects were included if they had either a prehospital diagnosis of “stroke/TIA” or a prehospital diagnosis of “decreased level of consciousness” or “headache” and signs and symptoms suggestive of a cerebrovascular event. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality, ICH, or SAH. Multivariate logistic regression was used to derive a clinical prediction rule.

RESULTS: In 1682 subjects, the discharge diagnoses included TIA (n = 282, 17%), ischemic stroke (n = 433, 26%), ICH (n = 102, 6%), and SAH (n = 30, 2%). There were 221 patients (13%) who experienced the primary outcome: 67 (4%) with non-fatal ICH or SAH and 154 (9%) who died. Using GCS score alone, the area under ROC curve was 0.72, and GCS ≤ 10 resulted in a sensitivity of 0.48 (95%CI 0.42, 0.55) and specificity of 0.88 (95%CI 0.87, 0.90). A six-point prehospital stroke triage score (PSTS) was also derived: nausea/vomiting (1 point), systolic BP ≥ 175 (1 point), GCS 7-10 (2 points) and GCS 3-6 (4 points). The area under ROC curve for the PSTS was 0.74. Test characteristics for PSTS and GCS were similar (Table).

CONCLUSION: GCS alone performed similarly to a six-point clinical decision rule for the prehospital identification of patients at increased risk of death, ICH or SAH. GCS has potential utility as a criterion for the prehospital triage to comprehensive stroke centers.

Abstract 155: Risk of Seizures after Malignant MCA Stroke and Decompressive Hemicraniectomy

Background Post-stroke seizures (PSS) have a devastating effect on morale and may further impair an already compromised quality of life. The reported incidence of PSS is 5-12%, but may be higher in patients with malignant MCA stroke requiring decompressive hemicraniectomy. Seizure prophylaxis for stroke survivors is not recommended, and little guidance exists about the use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) after neurosurgical procedures. We aimed to determine the incidence of seizures after hemicraniectomy in stroke survivors and to identify risk factors for development of seizures after stroke. Via telephone interview, we explored patients own experience after their stroke.

Methods We reviewed charts of patients aged 18-99 with malignant MCA infarction who underwent decompressive hemicraniectomy from Jan 1, 2002 to Dec 31, 2008. We looked for seizures that occurred after their stroke and for clinical and imaging factors related to those. All patients who consented to a telephone interview were contacted to inquire about seizure history. Seizure-free survival analysis was used, with log rank testing for associations.

Results We identified 38 patients, mean follow-up time was 504 days (IQR 140-857). Nearly half of patients suffered a seizure (18/38) and the seizures were difficult to control in 9/18. Four patients suffered their first seizure during initial hospitalization. For 14/18, the first seizure occurred after or around cranioplasty and mostly at home. Perioperative seizure prophylaxis was variable and did not influence seizure occurrence. Older age showed a trend towards increased seizure risk (log rank p=.09). Neither gender, race, severity, location or hemorrhagic transformation were associated with development of post-stroke seizures. Modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) at discharge was 4 or above in all patients. By last follow-up, 17/38 patients had a mRS of 3 or better. Patients who suffered a seizure did not feel well prepared for the possibility of PSS, and for some the seizures were considered a major setback. Among those who responded to the questionnaire (n=14, 12 had seizures), all would have wanted to know whether or not they were at high risk for developing PSS, and would have opted to take anti-epileptic medications for seizure prophylaxis.

Conclusions The frequency of seizures after malignant MCA stroke requiring decompressive hemicraniectomy is higher than expected, and the seizures often difficult to control.

Design and retrospective analysis of the Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS)

OBJECTIVES

The therapeutic window for intervention in acute cerebral ischemia is brief. Prehospital identification of acute stroke patients and paramedic administration of neuroprotective agents may soon become critical components of successful acute stroke treatment. This preliminary study sought to demonstrate that a new prehospital screening instrument, the Los Angeles Prehospital Stroke Screen (LAPSS), sensitively identifies acute stroke patients. Further, the study evaluated the potential time savings that could be achieved by paramedic administration of neuroprotective agents in the field.

METHODS

The authors designed a simple stroke screening tool for use by prehospital personnel, emphasizing motor deficits. They then tested instrument performance and time savings retrospectively, employing data from patients enrolled within six hours of symptom onset in randomized stroke trials at three university-associated paramedic receiving hospitals.

RESULTS

Fifty of 83 patients enrolled in hyperacute stroke trials arrived by ambulance, including 41 with ischemic infarcts and seven with hemorrhages. Of the 41 with acute ischemic stroke, 38 (93%) would have been accurately identified by the LAPSS. For these 38 patients, 1 hour and 50 minutes would have been saved had neuroprotective drug been administered by paramedics at the time of transport vs the actual time of study agent administration in the emergency department.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAPSS sensitively identifies ambulance-arriving acute stroke patients, and a substantial time savings will potentially occur if neuroprotective agents are administered by paramedics in the field. The LAPSS is a promising tool that may enable paramedic recognition of stroke with a high degree of sensitivity and simplicity in a short period of time.