Prognostic value of blood pressure in the acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke

Abstract

Aim. To study changes in blood pressure (BP) in patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke (AIS), to correlate BP in patients with AIS with BP in patients with chronic brain ischemia, and to study the association of various BP indices with stroke severity and recovery.Material and methods. We included 235 patients with hemispheric AIS (age 64±11 years; women, 41,3%). BP was assessed 6 times as follows: by patient’s self-measurement during the month before the stroke onset, in the ambulance, in the admission department, in the intensive care unit using 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM), in the neurologic department (BPM), and 90 days after stroke. In patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (178 patients, age 62±13 years, 46,1% women), BP was assessed 3 times: by patient’s self-measurement during the month before hospitalization, in the admission department, and in the neurologic department (BPM).Results. Patients with AIS within the month before stroke had higher systolic and pulse pressure than patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. During the acute stroke period, patients with AIS despite reaching target systolic and diastolic BP had significantly increased variability of systolic and diastolic BP compared to patients with chronic brain ischemia. Systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg recorded consecutively in ambulance, in admission department, and in intensive care unit, as well as pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg, and systolic BP variability ≥18 mm Hg recorded on day 1-2 and day 9-10, positively correlated with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (r≥0,37, p≤0,0017) on day 10 and with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (r≥0,29, p≤0,006) on day 90.Conclusion. Patients with hemispheric AIS had significantly higher systolic BP and pulse pressure within the month before stroke. During the first 10 days of AIS persistent increase in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure, and BP variability was associated with more severe stroke and less favorable outcome. These results should be taken into account when administering antihypertensive treatment.