Hormone replacement therapy and associated risk of stroke in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: There is little information about the risk of stroke in relation to time since initiation of hormone therapy and in relation to estrogen dose. METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study at Group Health Cooperative (GHC), a health maintenance organization in the greater Seattle (Wash) area, to assess the association of hormone replacement therapy with the risks of incident ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Cases were all postmenopausal women with incident stroke at GHC during July 1989 through December 1998 (726 ischemic strokes and 213 hemorrhagic strokes). Controls were randomly selected from GHC enrollees and frequency matched to cases on age and calendar year (n = 2525). Hormone use was assessed from computerized pharmacy data. We reviewed the medical record to confirm eligibility and assess other risk factors. RESULTS: After risk factor adjustment, ischemic stroke was not associated with current use of estrogen with progestin (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.97 [0.69-1.37]) or without (0.94 [0.72-1.23]) compared with never use. Similarly, hemorrhagic stroke was not associated with current use of estrogen with progestin (0.74 [0.43-1.28]) or without (1.06 [0.71-1.56]). However, the risks of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke were increased 2-fold during the first 6 months of hormone use (ischemic stroke: 2.16 [1.04-4.49], hemorrhagic stroke: 2.20 [0.83-5.81]). Risk of ischemic stroke also increased with estrogen dose (P for trend =.03). CONCLUSION: The transitory increase in risks of ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke associated with initiation of hormone replacement therapy merits further investigation.     

Hemorrhagic stroke in a patient requiring long-term anticoagulant treatment: how to solve a dilemma

Hemorrhagic stroke is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in Poland. It results from disruption of intracranial vessel wall continuity. We report a case of 66-years-old man with prosthetic aortic valve after three ischemic strokes treated with acenocoumarol who was admitted to hospital with vertigo and motoric aphasia. Computed tomography confirmed a hemorrhagic stroke related to anticoagulant treatment. We discussed the principles of management and therapeutic options in patients requiring long-term anticoagulation suffering from severe hemorrhagic complications.     

Comparison of erythrocyte aggregability changes during ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

The aim of this work was to perform a comparative investigation of erythrocyte aggregability changes in the peripheral and cerebral circulation during ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Subjects of the present study were patients with ischemic brain infarcts (14 patients) and with hemorrhagic stroke (21 patients) from the Intensive Care Unit of the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery. The blood samples were obtained from the following blood vessels: the common carotid artery carrying blood to the primarily damaged brain hemisphere, both jugular veins carrying blood from the primarily damaged and the contralateral hemispheres, as well as from the cubital vein to obtain specimens of the systemically circulating blood. Erythrocyte aggregation was evaluated by using the "Georgian technique". We found that the RBC aggregation indices increased in both the regional as well as the systemic circulation of the hemorrhagic stroke patients as compared to ischemic stroke patients. The results of the present study demonstrate different changes of erythrocyte aggregation in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Therefore, the role of blood rheological properties in their pathogenesis seems also to be different.     

Comparison of blood pressure-associated risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage: Korea Medical Insurance Corporation study

Intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage have different pathogeneses and risk factor profiles. However, little information is available on the difference between intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages in relation to blood pressure. We prospectively investigated the relationships between blood pressure and risks of stroke subtypes. We measured blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors in 100,147 men and 59,558 women 35 to 59 years of age in 1990 and 1992. Outcomes were fatal and nonfatal events of stroke and its subtypes from 1993 to 2002. Independent relationships between baseline blood pressure and stroke subtypes were assessed using Cox's proportional hazard models. During the 10 years, 1714 ischemic and 1159 hemorrhagic strokes (742 intracerebral and 308 subarachnoid hemorrhages) occurred. Blood pressure was related more closely with hemorrhagic stroke than ischemic stroke, and the difference was more prominent in women. Among the subtypes of hemorrhagic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage was more closely related with blood pressure than subarachnoid hemorrhage. For each 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure, adjusted relative risks of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were 1.79 (95% confidence interval, 1.68 to 1.90), 2.48 (2.30 to 2.68), and 1.65 (1.38 to 1.97) in men, and 1.64 (1.42 to 1.89), 3.15 (2.61 to 3.80), and 2.29 (1.82 to 2.89) in women, respectively. In conclusion, blood pressure is more closely related with intracerebral hemorrhage than subarachnoid hemorrhage, thus proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage in hemorrhagic stroke may affect the association between blood pressure and hemorrhagic stroke. Our data also emphasize the importance of blood pressure control for the prevention of stroke, especially in countries with a high incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage.     

Association between statin adherence and the risk of stroke among South Korean adults with hyperlipidemia

Background and aimsThe effectiveness of statins commonly used to prevent stroke may depend on adherence to treatment. We examined the association between statin adherence and stroke risk among South Korean adults with hyperlipidemia.Methods and resultsThe data of 128,052 and 129,390 participants with hyperlipidemia for the purpose of studying the risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, respectively, were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort between 2002 and 2013. Participants were divided into groups according to statin adherence, calculated as the proportion of days covered (PDC; poor, moderate, good). The risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Individuals with poor PDC exhibited higher risks of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke than those with good PDC (ischemic stroke: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–1.15, hemorrhagic stroke: HR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.22–1.54). Women with poor PDC were at higher risk of ischemic stroke than those with good PDC (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09–1.26), while men with poor PDC exhibited a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke than those with good PDC (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.27–1.90). Individuals with disabilities who had poor PDC were at higher risk of ischemic stroke than those with good PDC (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.24–1.93).ConclusionsWe detected a significant association between statin adherence and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke risk. Therefore, hyperlipidemia patients should adhere to statin treatment; such interventions are required to reduce the stroke risk.     

Hormone therapy and the risk of stroke after acute myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of hormone therapy (HRT) with hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke among postmenopausal women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes are common complications of AMI, and women are at increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke after thrombolytic therapy. This risk may be related to female hormones. METHODS: Using data from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-3, we studied 114,724 women age 55 years or older admitted to the hospital for AMI, of whom 7,353 reported HRT use on admission. We determined rates of in-hospital hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke stratified by HRT use and estimated the independent association of HRT with each stroke type using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The HRT users were younger than non-users, had fewer risk factors for stroke including diabetes and prior stroke, and received more pharmacologic and invasive therapy including cardiac catheterization. A total of 2,152 (1.9%) in-hospital strokes occurred, with 442 (0.4%) hemorrhagic, 1,017 (0.9%) ischemic and 693 (0.6%) unspecified. Among HRT users and non-users, the rates of hemorrhagic stroke (0.40% vs. 0.42%, p = 1.00) and ischemic stroke (0.80% vs. 0.96%, p = 0.11) were similar. Among 13,328 women who received thrombolytic therapy, the rate of hemorrhagic stroke was not significantly different for users and non-users (1.6% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.22). After adjustment for baseline and treatment differences, HRT was not associated with hemorrhagic (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.58 to 1.35) or ischemic stroke (OR, 0.89; CI, 0.66 to 1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Acute myocardial infarction is a high-risk setting for stroke among postmenopausal women, but HRT does not appear to modify that risk. Clinicians should not alter their approach to thrombolytic therapy based on HRT use.     

The epidemiology, evaluation and treatment of stroke in adults with sickle cell disease

Stroke is a frequent and severe complication in adults with sickle cell disease. Ischemic stroke often causes physical and cognitive disability, while hemorrhagic stroke has a high mortality rate. As more children survive, the number of strokes in adults is increasing, yet stroke remains poorly understood. We review the epidemiology of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in adults with sickle cell disease and outline a practical approach to the evaluation of stroke including both sickle cell disease specific and general risk factors. We discuss the acute treatment and secondary prevention of stroke in this population based on the evidence in children with sickle cell disease and the general population, in addition to the limited studies in adults with sickle cell disease.     

Serum potassium and stroke risk among treated hypertensive adults

BACKGROUND: In prospective studies, hypokalemia has been shown to be associated with a subsequent increase in stroke risk in treated hypertensive adults after 4 to 16 years of follow-up. Stroke risk associated with more recent assessments of hypokalemia has not been examined. METHODS: We used data from an on-going, population-based, case-control study of incident stroke at Group Health Cooperative (GHC). Cases were treated hypertensive adults, 30 to 79 years old, who sustained an incident ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke between July 1989 and December 2000. Controls were GHC members without a history of stroke who met same inclusion criteria as cases. Serum potassium (K(+)) levels were collected from GHC laboratory database. Hypokalemia (< or =3.4 mM/L) was defined using the most recent serum K(+) measure in the year before the index date (event date for cases; random date within calendar year of identification for controls). Multivariate logistic regression estimated the relative risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. RESULTS: Among 593 ischemic and 125 hemorrhagic stroke cases, and 2397 controls, few subjects were hypokalemic: 3%, 6%, and 2%, respectively. Using the normal range of serum K(+) as a reference (3.5 to 5.0 mM/L), hypokalemia was associated with an elevated risk of ischemic (odds ratio [OR]: 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-3.64) and hemorrhagic stroke (OR: 3.29; 95% CI: 1.45-7.48) in adjusted analyses. Associations were not modified by diuretic use. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with treated hypertension, hypokalemia in the year before a stroke was associated with an increased risk of incident ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke independent of diuretic use when compared to normal serum K(+) levels.     

我国人群中缺血性和出血性脑卒中发病的相对比例

目的　探讨我国人群中出血性和缺血性脑卒中发病的相对比例。方法　 1 991～ 2 0 0 0年按照世界卫生组织MONICA方案对我国 1 5组人群脑卒中事件进行监测。结果　 1 996～ 2 0 0 0年 1 5组人群的CT检查率从 1 4 .8%～ 97.5 %不等 ,缺血性和出血性脑卒中的比例从 0 .37∶1～ 3 .82∶1不等 ,两者的相关系数为 0 .71 (P =0 .0 0 3)。在CT检查率达到 80 %以上的人群 ,缺血性与出血性脑卒中的比例无一例外 ,均 >1 .0。从 1 991～ 2 0 0 0年 ,1 0年间均有资料的 1 2组人群CT检查率从 41 .1 %增加到88 3 % ,缺血性与出血性脑卒中的比例则从 1 .2 5∶1增加到 1 .85∶1 ,两者的相关系数为 0 .77(P =0 0 1 )。经CT检查的病例中 ,无论任何一年缺血性与出血性脑卒中的比例均大于 1 .0。结论　我国人群中脑卒中发病是以缺血性脑卒中为主。CT检查率偏低是造成部分人群“出血性脑卒中发病为主”假象的主要因素。     

Trends in Stroke Rates,Risk, and Outcomes in the United States, 1988 to 2008

Background

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We describe trends in the incidence, outcomes, and risk factors for stroke in the US Medicare population from 1988 to 2008.

Methods

We analyzed data from a 20% sample of hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries with a principal discharge diagnosis of ischemic (n = 918,124) or hemorrhagic stroke (n = 133,218). Stroke risk factors were determined from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (years 1988-1994, 2001-2008) and medication uptake from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (years 1992-2008). Primary outcomes were stroke incidence and 30-day mortality after stroke hospitalization.

Results

Ischemic stroke incidence decreased from 927 per 100,000 in 1988 to 545 per 100,000 in 2008, and hemorrhagic stroke decreased from 112 per 100,000 to 94 per 100,000. Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality decreased from 15.9% in 1988 to 12.7% in 2008 for ischemic stroke and from 44.7% to 39.3% for hemorrhagic stroke. Although observed stroke rates decreased, the Framingham stroke model actually predicted increased stroke risk (mean stroke score 8.3% in 1988-1994, 8.8% in 2005-2008). Statin use in the general population increased (4.0% in 1992, 41.4% in 2008), as did antihypertensive use (53.0% in 1992, 73.5% in 2008).

Conclusions

Incident strokes in the Medicare population aged ≥65 years decreased by approximately 40% over the last 2 decades, a decline greater than expected on the basis of the population's stroke risk factors. Case fatality from stroke also declined. Although causality cannot be proven, declining stroke rates paralleled increased use of statins and antihypertensive medications.     

The Management of Hypertension for an Acute Stroke: What Is the Blood Pressure Goal?

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death in the US and a leading cause of disability among adults. Stroke is broadly classified into ischemic and hemorrhagic subtypes. Although the pathogenesis may differ between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes, a unifying feature is that hypertension is a major risk factor for most ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Prevention of first and recurrent stroke is substantially dependent on blood pressure control. There is controversy about blood pressure management in acute stroke. In this review we discuss controversies about and guidelines for management of blood pressure in acute stroke. We subdivide our discussion to address important questions about acute blood pressure management in ischemic stroke, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. In addition, we address BP control recommendations when tissue plasminogen activator administration is being contemplated for treatment of acute ischemic stroke.     

Optimal intensity of international normalized ratio in warfarin therapy for secondary prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVE: To determine optimal intensity of international normalized ratio (INR) of warfarin therapy for the prevention of ischemic events in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), we evaluated the risk of severe recurrent stroke, systemic embolism and major hemorrhagic complications according to INR and age. METHODS: We carried out the National Cardiovascular Center (NCVC) NVAF Secondary Prevention Study and analyzed data with those of Japanese Nonvaluvular Atrial Fibrillation-embolism Secondary Prevention Cooperative Study to elucidate relationships of major stroke and hemorrhage with INR and age. In both studies, all patients with cardioembolic stroke were given warfarin, monitored with INR every month, and followed up for primary endpoints of stroke and embolism to other parts of the body, and for secondary endpoints of major hemorrhagic complications requiring blood transfusion or hospitalization. We regarded ischemic stroke with NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) score > or = 10 or systemic embolism as a major ischemic event and ischemic stroke with NIHSS score <10 as a minor ischemic event. There were 203 patients enrolled in total (152 men and 51 women). We investigated the relationship of occurrence of the events with INR and age, and calculated the incidence rates of major and minor ischemic events and major hemorrhagic events. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up of 653 days, major ischemic stroke and systemic embolism occurred in only 4 patients with INR <1.6, minor ischemic stroke in 10 patients with INR 1.50-2.66, and major hemorrhage in 9 patients with INR 2.30-3.56. Patients with major ischemic or hemorrhagic events were significantly older than those without any events (75+/-4 years vs. 67+/-7 years, p<0.001 unpaired t test). Incidence rates of any events at INR < or = 1.59, 1.60-1.99, 2.00-2.59 and > or = 2.60 were 8.6%, 3.8%, 4.9%, and 25.7%/year, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Major ischemic or hemorrhagic events occur often in the elderly NVAF patients, in whom an INR value of between 1.6 and 2.6 seems optimal to prevent such events.     

Body mass index and the risk of stroke in men

BACKGROUND: Although obesity is an established risk factor for coronary heart disease, its role as a risk factor for stroke remains controversial. METHODS: Prospective cohort study among 21 414 US male physicians participating in the Physicians' Health Study. Incidence of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke was measured by self-report and confirmed by medical record review. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the association of body mass index (BMI), calculated as self-reported weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters, with risk of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke. RESULTS: During 12.5 years of follow-up, 747 strokes (631 ischemic, 104 hemorrhagic, and 12 undefined) occurred. Compared with participants with BMIs less than 23, those with BMIs of 30 or greater had an adjusted relative risk of 2.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48-2.71) for total stroke, 1.95 (95% CI, 1.39-2.72) for ischemic stroke, and 2.25 (95% CI, 1.01-5.01) for hemorrhagic stroke. When BMI was evaluated as a continuous variable, each unit increase of BMI was associated with a significant 6% increase in the adjusted relative risks of total (95% CI, 4%-8%), ischemic (95% CI, 3%-8%), and hemorrhagic stroke (95% CI, 1%-12%). Additional adjustment for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia slightly attenuated the risks for total and ischemic (relative risk, 4%; 95% CI, 2%-7%), but not hemorrhagic, stroke. CONCLUSIONS: These prospective data indicate a significant increase in the relative risk of total stroke and its 2 major subtypes with each unit increase of BMI that is independent of the effects of hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol. Because BMI is a modifiable risk factor, the prevention of stroke may be another benefit associated with preventing obesity in adults.     

Blood pressure and clinical outcome among patients with acute stroke in Inner Mongolia, China

OBJECTIVES: The association between blood pressure and short-term clinical outcome of acute stroke is inconclusive. We studied the association between admission blood pressure and in-hospital death or disability among acute stroke patients in Inner Mongolia, China. METHODS: A total of 2178 acute ischemic stroke and 1760 hemorrhagic stroke patients confirmed by a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging were included in the present study. Blood pressure and other study variables were collected within the first 24 h of hospital admission. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by trained neurologists during hospitalization. RESULTS: The in-hospital case-fatality rate was higher for acute hemorrhagic stroke (5.9%) than it was for acute ischemic stroke (1.8%), whereas the disability rate was higher for those with acute ischemic stroke (41.3%) than those with acute hemorrhagic stroke (34.4%) at discharge. Blood pressure at admission was not significantly associated with clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke. On the contrary, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly and positively associated with odds of death or disability in acute hemorrhagic stroke. For example, compared to those with a systolic blood pressure less than 140 mmHg, multiple-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of death/disability was 1.38 (0.96, 1.99), 1.42 (1.00, 2.03), 1.84 (1.28, 2.64), and 1.91 (1.35, 2.70) among participants with systolic blood pressure 140-159, 160-179, 180-199, and at least 200 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.0001 for linear trend). CONCLUSION: Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly and positively associated with death and disability among patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke, but not acute ischemic stroke, in Inner Mongolia, China.     

Risk Factors and Stroke Subtypes: Results of Five Consecutive Years of the Perugia Stroke Registry

To understand the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of stroke and to target prevention, we need to know how risk factors differ among etiological subtypes. Our aims were to determine the different profile of risk factors for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes in our cohort from the Perugia Hospital-Based Stroke Registry. We analyzed the characteristics and the different risk factors of 2,395 first-ever consecutive stroke patients admitted to the Perugia Hospitals in the period between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002. The prevalence of cerebrovascular risk factors in each stroke subtype was analyzed independently and compared with other subtypes of stroke pooled together by means of univariate analysis and logistic regression models. Hypertension occurred in 61% of patients; familial history of stroke in 41.6%; vascular disease in 27.2%; embolic heart disease in 22.3%; cigarette smoking in 21.6%. Different potentially modifiable risk factors profiles were identified for each ischemic subtype of stroke, while in hemorrhagic lobar stroke subtypes, only male gender was an independent risk factor.     

Risk factors and stroke subtypes: results of five consecutive years of the Perugia Stroke Registry

To understand the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of stroke and to target prevention, we need to know how risk factors differ among etiological subtypes. Our aims were to determine the different profile of risk factors for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke subtypes in our cohort from the Perugia Hospital-Based Stroke Registry. We analyzed the characteristics and the different risk factors of 2,395 first-ever consecutive stroke patients admitted to the Perugia Hospitals in the period between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2002. The prevalence of cerebrovascular risk factors in each stroke subtype was analyzed independently and compared with other subtypes of stroke pooled together by means of univariate analysis and logistic regression models. Hypertension occurred in 61% of patients; familial history of stroke in 41.6%; vascular disease in 27.2%; embolic heart disease in 22.3%; cigarette smoking in 21.6%. Different potentially modifiable risk factors profiles were identified for each ischemic subtype of stroke, while in hemorrhagic lobar stroke subtypes, only male gender was an independent risk factor.     

Deciding on anticoagulating the oldest old with atrial fibrillation: insights from cost-effectiveness analysis

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the tradeoffs between the efficacy of anticoagulation with warfarin and its side effects in the oldest old with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF). DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis. SETTING: Published literature, including meta-analyses when available, and web-based sources. PARTICIPANTS: Those aged 65 to 100 with AF. INTERVENTION: Anticoagulation with warfarin. MEASUREMENTS: Quality-adjusted life expectancy and cost. RESULTS: Anticoagulation is not effective in persons with AF who do not have other risk factors, even in the oldest old. The best argument for its use (prolongation of life at an acceptable cost) can be made in those at major risk for stroke because of previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, but poor quality of life before anticoagulation and comorbidities that carry their own risks of dying diminish benefits. The decision to anticoagulate the oldest old with AF must take into consideration the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and of death from hemorrhagic stroke that existed before anticoagulation, the increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke and of death from hemorrhagic stroke while anticoagulated, and the efficacy of anticoagulation. Cost-effectiveness is also influenced by the cost of warfarin, the risk of major extracranial bleeding, the risk (natural and anticoagulated) of death from hemorrhagic stroke, the rate of ischemic stroke, the cost of major extracranial bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes, the cost of nursing home care, and the fraction of patients with stroke who need nursing home care. CONCLUSION: There is no compelling evidence to date that anticoagulation prolongs quality-adjusted life expectancy in the oldest old with nonrheumatic AF. More studies that better estimate the risk of intracranial bleeding with and without anticoagulation in the oldest old are needed before recommendations can be made. The oldest old who are most likely to benefit are those who have a high risk of stroke secondary to risk factors other than age alone, although quality of life and life expectancy related to these risk factors limit obtained benefit. Recommendations that all older persons with AF should be anticoagulated are premature.     

Venous thromboembolism in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

The rates of pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and their combination, venous thromboembolism (VTE), in hospitalized patients with stroke from 1979 to 2003 were determined from the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Of 14,109,000 patients hospitalized with ischemic stroke, PE occurred in 72,000 (0.51%), DVT in 104,000 (0.74%), and VTE in 165,000 (1.17%). Of 1,606,000 patients hospitalized with hemorrhagic stroke, rates were higher: PE occurred in 11,000 (0.68%), DVT in 22,000 (1.37%), and VTE in 31,000 (1.93%). The rates of VTE with ischemic stroke and with hemorrhagic stroke did not change over the 25-year period of observation.     

Race,Ethnicity, and State-by-State Geographic Variation in Hemorrhagic Stroke in Dialysis Patients

Background and objectives

Geographic variation in stroke rates is well established in the general population, with higher rates in the South than in other areas of the United States. A similar pattern of geographic variation in ischemic strokes has also recently been reported in patients undergoing long-term dialysis, but whether this is also the case for hemorrhagic stroke is unknown.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Medicare claims from 2000 to 2005 were used to ascertain hemorrhagic stroke events in a large cohort of incident dialysis patients. A Poisson generalized linear mixed model was generated to determine factors associated with stroke and to ascertain state-by-state geographic variability in stroke rates by generating observed-to-expected (O/E) adjusted rate ratios (ARRs) for stroke.

Results

A total of 265,685 Medicare-eligible incident dialysis patients were studied. During a median follow-up of 15.5 months, 2397 (0.9%) patients sustained a hemorrhagic stroke. African Americans (ARR, 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 1.57), Hispanics (ARR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.57 to 2.03), and individuals of other races (ARR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.80) had a significantly higher risk for hemorrhagic stroke compared with whites. In models adjusted for age and sex, four states had O/E ARRs for hemorrhagic stroke that were significantly greater than 1.0 (California, 1.15; Maryland, 1.25; North Carolina, 1.25; Texas, 1.19), while only 1 had an ARR less than 1.0 (Wisconsin, 0.79). However, after adjustment for race and ethnicity, no states had ARRs that varied significantly from 1.0.

Conclusion

Race and ethnicity, or other factors that covary with these, appear to explain a substantial portion of state-by-state geographic variation in hemorrhagic stroke. This finding suggests that the factors underlying the high rate of hemorrhagic strokes in dialysis patients are likely to be system-wide and that further investigations into regional variations in clinical practices are unlikely to identify large opportunities for preventive interventions for this disorder.     

Post-stroke epilepsy

Seizures occur in about 10% of stroke patients. Hence, stroke is the most common cause of seizures and epilepsy in the elderly population. Five percent are early-onset seizures (peak onset within the first day after the stroke) and another 5% are late-onset seizures (peak onset within 6 to 12 months after the stroke). Epilepsy (ie, recurrent seizures) develops in 3% to 4% of the stroke patients (in about one third of the patients with early-onset seizures and about one half of the patients with late-onset seizures). There is a strong positive correlation between stroke severity and the risk of post-stroke seizures; the risk is very low in mild strokes. Seizures are more common in hemorrhagic stroke and in stroke with cortical involvement. Whether this is due to the hemorrhagic component or the cortical involvement per se, or a reflection of more severe strokes among patients with hemorrhagic strokes and lesions involving cortical structures, is not clear. The influence of seizures on outcome is still a matter of controversy. Although epileptic seizures are considered easy to control, this is not supported by evidence from randomized controlled trials.