European Stroke Journal最新文献

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysms are often unruptured and two-thirds of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) are women. Rupture of an intracranial aneurysm causes aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). While risk factors for aSAH have been extensively studied, those for UIA remain less well understood. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify risk factors for the presence of saccular UIAs and assess potential sex differences.

Patients and methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies on risk factors for UIA up to March 2024. Assessed risk factors included smoking, hypertension, alcohol use, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, physical activity, and body mass index. We performed random-effects meta-analyses to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for each risk factor.

Results: We identified 21 studies reporting on overall 347 907 participants and 8698 UIA cases. Hypertension (OR 1.72, 95% CI, 1.42-2.09) and smoking (OR 1.47, 95% CI, 1.11-1.95) were associated with the presence of UIAs. No statistically significant associations were found for the other assessed risk factors. Among 18 studies that included both sexes, only one provided sex-stratified results, preventing us from assessing potential sex differences.

Discussion: Future research should consistently report sex-stratified results to enable investigation of potential sex differences in UIA risk factors and further explore female-specific risk factors that may contribute to the high female preponderance in UIA.

Conclusion: Hypertension and smoking are associated with an increased risk of UIAs. The lack of sex-stratified data limits conclusions about sex-specific risk profiles.

Background: Access to reperfusion therapies and stroke unit (SU) admission remains heterogeneous across Europe. Mapping tools can reveal service gaps and guide implementation strategies. MAPSTROKE provides regional mapping of existing stroke centres and identifies potential new sites in underserved areas.

Aims: To apply a computational strategy to the Italian stroke care system to estimate national coverage for reperfusion therapies and quantify SU bed capacity under current constraints.

Methods: Using MAPSTROKE geospatial modelling, we assessed (1) 45-min access to a hospital providing reperfusion treatment and (2) SU bed coverage limited by capacity. Population and stroke incidence data for 2023 were mapped on a hexagonal grid combining sources from the Italian Ministry of Health and the Kontur Dataset. Hospitals were classified as Comprehensive (CSC), Primary (PSC), Acute Stroke-Ready (ASRH) or Potential Acute Stroke Centres (PASC). Isochrones of 45 min were generated for hospitals performing reperfusion. Regional coverage was estimated, and a Partial Set Covering identified the minimal number of PASCs required to achieve ≥ 90% coverage. Stroke unit capacity was estimated using bed counts and mean length of stay (LOS).

Results: Among 535 hospitals (80 CSCs, 132 PSCs, 22 ASRHs, 301 PASCs), 91.7% of strokes were within 45 min of a hospital providing reperfusion treatment. Seven regions were below 90%, 6 achieved this target after optimisation. National SU capacity covered 79.2% of annual incidence, with a gap of 255 beds (158 with ideal LOS).

Conclusions: The MAPSTROKE project reveals adequate reperfusion access but critical SU capacity disparities, underscoring the need for coordinated national strategies.

Introduction: Identifying patients with minor stroke is challenging in the prehospital setting due to subtle symptoms. The majority of studies evaluating prehospital stroke scales include patients with high median NIHSS at admission. ParaNASPP, a stepped-wedge cluster-randomized controlled trial found that prehospital NIHSS identified more patients with minor symptoms. Further knowledge on presenting symptoms of patients with suspected minor stroke, and the accuracy of prehospital stroke scales on minor stroke is needed.

Methods: A post-hoc analysis of data from the ParaNASPP trial describes prehospital presenting signs and symptoms of patients with suspected mild minor stroke. We defined mild minor stroke as NIHSS 0-2 at hospital admission. Furthermore, we reconstructed and evaluated nine prehospital stroke scales (NIHSS, FAST/CPSS, BE-FAST, LAPSS, MASS, MedPacs, PreHAST, and sNIHSS-EMS) in patients with mild minor stroke.

Results: Four hundred and thirty-one patients in the ParaNASPP trial had NIHSS 0-2 at hospital admission. Of these, 152 (35%) were discharged from hospital with a stroke diagnosis. When examined by paramedics, stroke patients presented with speech disturbance, facial palsy, and motor weakness in arm or leg, while stroke mimics presented with dizziness, headache, and nausea/vomiting. NIHSS had the highest sensitivity (95%) and lowest specificity (16%), while LAPSS had the lowest sensitivity (42%) and highest specificity (80%) in the patients with suspected mild minor stroke. The remaining scales had sensitivity between 67% and 93%, and specificity between 23% and 67%.

Conclusions: In patients with mild minor stroke, substantial overlap in presentation between stroke and stroke mimics makes triage challenging. Prehospital stroke scales provide either high sensitivity or specificity. Competence and training of paramedics in when and how to use, and interpret, these scales is key for recognizing and correctly triaging stroke patients.The ParaNASPP trial was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov with registration number NCT04137874.

Introduction: We aim to evaluate the association between door-to-needle time (DTN) and outcomes in a population of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) + mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in the Italian Registry of Endovascular Treatment in Acute Stroke (IRETAS).

Materials and methods: Patients with AIS secondary to middle cerebral artery or intracranial internal carotid artery occlusion with known times of symptoms onset, directly presenting to an MT-capable center, were included in the analysis. According to pre-defined DTN cut-off values (⩽30, ⩽45, and ⩽60 min), we evaluated the association between DTN and outcomes by multivariate logistic regression analyses. Effectiveness outcomes were 3-month functional independence, 3-month excellent outcome and successful reperfusion. Safety outcomes were any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality.

Results: About 1602 patients were included in our analysis. After logistic regression analysis, a DTN ⩽ 60 min was significantly associated with 3-month functional independence (OR 1.36; 95% CI 1.02-1.82). DTNs ⩽ 30, ⩽45, and ⩽60 min were significantly associated with successful reperfusion (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.6-4.43; OR 1.68; 95%CI 1.25-2.26; OR 1.57; 95% CI 1.21-2.05; respectively). A DTN ⩽ 60 min was also significantly associated with lower rate of any ICH (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.43-0.86). DTNs ⩽ 30, ⩽45, and ⩽60 min were significantly associated with lower 3-month mortality (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.08-0.67; OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.29-0.72; OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.39-0.84; respectively).

Conclusions: In patients with AIS treated with IVT + MT, a shorter DTN is associated with better outcomes if IVT is initiated within 1 h of hospital admission.

Introduction: Long-term adherence to secondary prevention after ischemic stroke remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate medication adherence, attainment of vascular treatment targets, and clinical characteristics that influence target achievement 3 years post-stroke.

Patients and methods: We included 665 home-dwelling ischemic stroke patients from the Norwegian Cognitive Impairment After Stroke study, admitted between May 2015 and March 2017 (n = 431 were followed for 3 years). Medication adherence was assessed using the 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale, medication persistence, and guideline-based treatment targets: blood pressure (BP) < 140/90 mmHg, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) < 2.0 mmol/L, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ⩽ 53 mmol/mol.

Results: At discharge, prescription rates were 97% for antithrombotics, 67% for antihypertensives, 88% for lipid-lowering drugs (LLD), and 10% for antidiabetics. Three years later, persistence rates were 97%, 91%, 83%, and 94%, respectively, with 73% reporting high medication adherence. Target achievement rates were 42% for BP, 47% for LDL-C, and 75% for HbA1c among diabetic patients. Younger age was associated with better BP control (OR 0.974 per year, 95% CI 0.957-0.992). Women had poorer LDL-C control (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33-0.91). More LLD (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14-1.37) and higher comorbidity (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.44) were associated with improved LDL-C control.

Conclusion: Control of risk factors remained unsatisfactory 3 years after ischemic stroke, despite relatively high persistence and adherence rates. Improved focus on implementing optimal secondary prevention for Norwegian stroke patients is necessary.

Introduction: Right-to-left shunt (RLS) associated with a patent foramen ovale has been related with ischemic stroke. However, its relationship with MRI white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) remains debated. This cross-sectional, single-centre study investigated the prevalence of RLS detected by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and its association with vascular lesions on MRI.

Patients and methods: 502 outpatients (mean age 47.8 ± 13 years; 45% male) with non-specific neurological symptoms underwent brain MRI and TCD with contrast saline. WMH severity was visually graded using the Fazekas scale.

Results: RLS was detected in 39% of the sample. No difference was found in demographics and clinical variables between those with and without RLS. No association was also found between RLS and MRI lesion load. As expected, a significant (P < .001) positive correlation was identified between age and Fazekas scores (ie, higher scores with increasing age). No effect on lesion load was found for sex, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity and smoking, while a statistically significant association (P = .016) was present for arterial hypertension (odds ratio 1.68, 95% CI, 1.10-2.56; among those with higher Fazekas scores). Finally, no significant association was found between RLS magnitude, both at rest and during the Valsalva manoeuver and the Fazekas scores.

Discussion: Although RLS was frequently detected in this cohort, it was not associated with the presence or severity of WMHs, which were instead driven by age and arterial hypertension. These findings support WMHs as MRI marker of cerebral small vessel disease rather than subclinical paradoxical embolism. This also suggests limited utility of routine TCD screening for RLS in patients with incidental WMHs and no history or sign of embolic features.

Conclusions: In patients with non-specific neurological symptoms, we detected a high occurrence of RLS, although this was not associated with an increased risk or severity of WMHs. As such, paradoxical embolism may not be a major determinant of subclinical WMHs in this population.

Background: Limited data exist on characteristics and patterns associated with patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who encounter first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) while not on oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy.

Methods: From a nationwide registry-linkage database including all patients with AF in Finland from 2007 to 2017, we included those with IS after diagnosis of AF and those without IS. Factors associated with non-OAC use among IS patients were examined using logistic regression, with separate models for independent variables and risk scores.

Results: Among 174,094 patients with new-onset AF, 11,680 (6.7%) patients (56.9% female; mean age 79.0 years) experienced IS. A total of 7507 (64.3%) of IS patients were not on OAC at the time of IS (mean age 78.9 years; 57.2% female). The proportion of non-OAC decreased from 77.2% to 45.6% over the study period. In the adjusted logistic regression model, the strongest factor associated with non-OAC was CHA2DS2-VA score of 0 points (OR 4.561; 95% CI, 3.097-6.718), followed by a score of 1 point (OR 2.382; 95% CI, 1.971-2.879). Other significant independent factors associated with non-OAC use were alcohol abuse (OR 2.282; 95% CI, 1.805-2.885), liver dysfunction (OR 2.120; 95% CI, 1.335-3.367), renal dysfunction (OR 1.430; 95% CI, 1.200-1.703), dementia (OR 1.394; 95% CI, 1.227-1.583), prior myocardial infarction (OR 1.346; 95% CI, 1.181-1.535), age <65 years (OR 1.274; 95% CI, 1.034-1.571), lowest income (OR 1.232; 95% CI, 1.104-1.374), female sex (OR 1.177; 95% CI, 1.077-1.287), and antiplatelets/NSAID use (OR 1.133; 95% CI, 1.042-1.231).

Conclusions: Less than 2% of AF patients experienced IS during study period and among these around 63% were without appropriate OAC therapy at the time of the IS. However, decreasing trend of non-OAC use was identified throughout the study period.

Introduction: This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, commissioned by South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, evaluated the effect of oxiracetam for preventing post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and explored potential interaction with physical activity using neuroimaging.

Patients and methods: Patients at high risk of PSCI, reporting subjective cognitive decline ⩾3 months after stroke, were randomized 1:1 to receive oxiracetam or placebo for 36 weeks. Physical activity was tracked via wrist-worn actigraphy. Coprimary endpoints were changes in Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB). Secondary outcomes included neuropsychological assessments and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging network metrics.

Results: Of 500 enrolled participants (mean age 68.9 years; median 32 months post-stroke), 457 completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in changes in MMSE (oxiracetam: +0.13 ± 2.27 vs placebo: +0.27 ± 2.09; p = 0.49) or CDR-SB scores (-0.14 ± 0.70 vs -0.08 ± 0.80; p = 0.38). No evidence of interaction was observed between oxiracetam and physical activity. Exploratory analyses suggested favorable trends in functional segregation and CDR-SB scores among highly active oxiracetam participants.

Discussion and conclusion: Oxiracetam did not demonstrate benefit in preventing PSCI in high-risk patients. These findings support the recent regulatory decision to suspend its use in South Korea.

Background: The no-reflow phenomenon, characterized by impaired microvascular reperfusion despite successful macrovascular recanalization, has been identified as a potential contributor to poor outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence and clinical impact of no-reflow phenomenon in AIS patients undergoing EVT.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting the no-reflow phenomenon after EVT. Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL (inception to February 9, 2025). Outcomes included no-reflow prevalence, functional outcomes (mRS), early neurological recovery, infarct volume, hemorrhagic complications, and 90-day mortality. Pooled risk ratios (RR) or mean differences (MD) were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis, and heterogeneity was assessed with I2.

Results: Eight studies (n = 1483 patients) were included. The pooled prevalence of no-reflow was 20.5% (95% CI 6.2%-49.9%; I2 = 96.9%). Compared with controls, patients with no-reflow had reduced early neurological recovery (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.64-0.90) and increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation (RR 1.82; 95% CI 1.18-2.79) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (RR 1.88; 95% CI 1.00-3.56). Differences in functional independence (mRS 0-2) and mortality were not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses based on study design revealed divergent patterns, particularly for infarct volume, which was significantly greater in no-reflow patients in post-hoc RCTs but not in the overall analysis.

Conclusion: No-reflow affects one in five EVT-treated patients and is associated with adverse neurological and hemorrhagic outcomes. Findings highlight the need for standardized definitions and prospective trials to clarify its clinical impact.