Computer-Mediated Therapies for Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of different forms of virtual reality (VR) treatments as either immersive virtual reality (IVR) or non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) in comparison to conventional therapy (CT) in improving physical and psychological status among stroke patients.MethodsThe literature search was conducted on seven databases: ACM Digital Library, Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, Scopus, and science direct. The effect sizes of the main outcomes were calculated using Cohen's d. Pooled results were used to present an overall estimate of the treatment effect using a random-effects model.ResultsA total of 22 randomized controlled trials were evaluated. 3 trials demonstrated that immersive virtual reality improved upper limb activity, function and activity of daily life in a way comparable to CT. 18 trials showed that NIVR had similar benefits to CT for upper limb activity and function, balance and mobility, activities of daily living and participation. A comparison between the different forms of VR showed that IVR may be more beneficial than NIVR for upper limb training and activities of daily life.ConclusionsThis study found out that IVR therapies may be more effective than NIVR but not CT to improve upper limb activity, function, and daily life activities. However, there is no evidence of the durability of IVR treatment. More research involving studies with larger samples is needed to assess the long-term effects and promising benefits of immersive virtual reality technology.     

Clinical Characteristics of Stroke with COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) potentially increases the risk of thromboembolism and stroke. Numerous case reports and retrospective cohort studies have been published with mixed characteristics of COVID-19 patients with stroke regarding age, comorbidities, treatment, and outcome. We aimed to depict the frequency and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients with stroke.MethodsPubMed and EMBASE were searched on June 10, 2020, to investigate COVID-19 and stroke through retrospective cross-sectional studies, case series/reports according to PRISMA guidelines. Study-specific estimates were combined using one-group meta-analysis in a random-effects model.Results10 retrospective cohort studies and 16 case series/reports were identified including 183 patients with COVID-19 and stroke. The frequency of detected stroke in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 1.1% ([95% confidential interval (CI)]: [0.6-1.6], I² = 62.9%). Mean age was 66.6 ([58.4-74.9], I² = 95.1%), 65.6% was male (61/93 patients). Mean days from symptom onset of COVID-19 to stroke was 8.0 ([4.1-11.9], p< 0.001, I² = 93.1%). D-dimer was 3.3 μg/mL ([1.7-4.9], I² = 86.3%), and cryptogenic stroke was most common as etiology at 50.7% ([31.0-70.4] I² = 64.1%, 39/71patients). Case fatality rate was 44.2% ([27.9-60.5], I² = 66.7%, 40/100 patients).ConclusionsThis systematic review assessed the frequency and clinical characteristics of stroke in COVID-19 patients. The frequency of detected stroke in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 1.1% and associated with older age and stroke risk factors. Frequent cryptogenic stroke and elevated d-dimer level support increased risk of thromboembolism in COVID-19 associated with high mortality. Further study is needed to elucidate the pathophysiology and prognosis of stroke in COVID-19 to achieve most effective care for this population.     

Transcarotid Access for Mechanical Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

ObjectivesDespite the success of mechanical thrombectomy in large vessel acute ischemic stroke, recanalization may fail due to difficult anatomic access or peripheral arterial occlusive disease. In these cases, transcarotid access may be used as an alternative, but it has not gained prominence due to safety concerns. Our objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of transcarotid access for mechanical thrombectomy.Materials and MethodsPreferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to perform a systematic review with articles published from 2010 to 2020 summarizing pre-intervention characteristics, techniques utilized, and outcomes of patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy via trans-carotid puncture. We performed a meta-analysis of clinical outcomes, reperfusion times and overall complications rates of trans-carotid approach.ResultsSix studies describing 80 total attempts at carotid access, 72 of which were successful (90% success rate), were included. Direct carotid puncture was most often used as a rescue technique (87% of patients) secondary to failed femoral access. Successful recanalization was achieved in 76% of patients. 90 day modified Rankin Scale ≤ 2 was achieved in 28% of patients. Carotid puncture-reperfusion time was 32 min (CI = 24–40, p < 0.001). Cervical complications occurred at a rate of 26.5% (95% CI = 17%–38%). Only 1.3% (1/80 patients) had a fatal outcome and 96% of complications required no intervention.ConclusionsOur results on the safety and efficacy of transcarotid access suggests that this approach is a viable alternative to failed thrombectomy when transfemoral or trans-radial access may be impractical.     

Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training for Cardiorespiratory Fitness,Muscle Strength,and Walking Capacity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundCardiorespiratory fitness, measured as peak oxygen consumption, is a potent predictor of stroke risk. Muscle weakness is the most prominent impairment after stroke and is directly associated with reduced walking capacity. There is a lack of recommendations for optimal combined aerobic training and resistance training for those patients. The purpose of this study was to systematically review and quantify the effects of exercise training on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and walking capacity after stroke.MethodsFive electronic databases were searched (until May 2019) for studies that met the following criteria: (1) adult humans with a history of stroke who ambulate independently; (2) structured exercise intervention based on combined aerobic training and resistance training; and (3) measured cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and/or walking capacity.ResultsEighteen studies (602 participants, average age 62 years) met the inclusion criteria. Exercise training significantly improved all 3 outcomes. In subgroup analyses for cardiorespiratory fitness, longer training duration was significantly associated with larger effect size. Likewise, for muscle strength, moderate weekly frequency and lower training volume were significantly associated with larger effect size. Furthermore, in walking capacity, moderate weekly frequency and longer training duration were significantly associated with larger effect size.ConclusionsThese results suggest that an exercise program consisting of moderate-intensity, 3 days per week, for 20 weeks should be considered for greater effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and walking capacity in stroke patients.     

Prognostic Tools for Early Mortality in Hemorrhagic Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Purpose

Several risk scores have been developed to predict mortality in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to systematically determine the performance of published prognostic tools.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for prognostic models (published between 2004 and April 2014) used in predicting early mortality (<6 months) after ICH. We evaluated the discrimination performance of the tools through a random-effects meta-analysis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) or c-statistic. We evaluated the following components of the study validity: study design, collection of prognostic variables, treatment pathways, and missing data.

Results

We identified 11 articles (involving 41,555 patients) reporting on the accuracy of 12 different tools for predicting mortality in ICH. Most studies were either retrospective or post-hoc analyses of prospectively collected data; all but one produced validation data. The Hemphill-ICH score had the largest number of validation cohorts (9 studies involving 3,819 patients) within our systematic review and showed good performance in 4 countries, with a pooled AUC of 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI)=0.77-0.85]. We identified several modified versions of the Hemphill-ICH score, with the ICH-Grading Scale (GS) score appearing to be the most promising variant, with a pooled AUC across four studies of 0.87 (95% CI=0.84-0.90). Subgroup testing found statistically significant differences between the AUCs obtained in studies involving Hemphill-ICH and ICH-GS scores (p=0.01).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis evaluated the performance of 12 ICH prognostic tools and found greater supporting evidence for 2 models (Hemphill-ICH and ICH-GS), with generally good performance overall.     

Mechanical Thrombectomy and Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

ObjectivesThe benefit and risk of administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) before endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (E-MT) in acute stroke has been actively debated. We therefore aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of three therapeutic strategies for acute stroke: direct E-MT, E-MT with pre-administration of tPA, and tPA alone with a network meta-analysis.Materials and methodsPUBMED and EMBASE were searched from September to November 2021 for randomized control trials that compared direct E-MT, E-MT with tPA, and tPA alone therapies in acute stroke. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2, at 90 days. All-cause mortality, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and successful revascularization were also evaluated.ResultsWe identified 11 randomized controlled trials with a total of 3,640 patients with acute stroke. Compared to E-MT with tPA, direct E-MT provided comparable outcomes regarding functional independence (relative risk (RR): 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88–1.19, I² = 36.6%) and all-cause mortality (RR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.85–1.31, I² = 0%). The incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was not significantly different between direct E-MT and E-MT with tPA (RR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.57–1.20, I² = 0%). Direct E-MT had favorable functional independence (RR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.15-1.74, I² = 36.6%) and higher successful revascularization rate (RR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.33–1.93, I² = 61.2%) than tPA alone.ConclusionsDirect E-MT alone led to acceptable outcomes even in comparison to E-MT with tPA, whereas additional tPA did not cause higher risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage.     

Real-World Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment with Intravenous Thrombolysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Evidence from outside the typical clinical research setting, such as the real-world setting, complements evidence coming from randomized controlled trials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate all available evidence from the real-world observational trials about long-term outcomes of treatment with intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) compared with not treated with IV rt-PA (non-rt-PA) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Do Adults with Stroke have Altered Interhemispheric Inhibition? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveInterhemispheric inhibition is an important cortical mechanism to support motor control. Altered interhemispheric inhibition has been the target of neuromodulation interventions. This systematic review investigated the evidence for altered interhemispheric inhibition in adults with unilateral neurological conditions: stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, complex regional pain syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral palsyMethodsWe pre-registered the protocol and followed PRISMA guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched to identify studies reporting interhemispheric inhibition measures in unilateral neurological conditions and healthy controls. Data were grouped according to the measure (ipsilateral silent period and dual-coil), stimulated hemisphere, and stage of the condition (subacute and chronic).Results1372 studies were identified, of which 14 were included (n = 226 adults with stroke and 161 age-matched controls). Ipsilateral silent period-duration was longer in people with stroke than in controls (stimulation of dominant hemisphere) regardless of stroke stage. Motor evoked potential was less suppressed in people with sub-acute stroke (stimulation of the unaffected hemisphere) than controls (stimulation of dominant hemisphere) and this reversed in chronic stroke.ConclusionDetection of altered interhemispheric inhibition appears to be dependent on the measure of interhemispheric inhibition and the stage of recovery.SignificanceRebalancing interhemispheric inhibition using neuromodulation is considered a promising line of treatment for stroke rehabilitation. Our results did not find compelling evidence to support consistent alterations in interhemispheric inhibition in adults with stroke.     

Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin for Lower Limbs Spasticity after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: To evaluate current evidence of the effectiveness of botulinum toxin (BTX) injection for lower limbs spasticity after stroke.

Methods: Ovid MEDLINE(R) In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations,Ovid MEDLINE(R), Ovid EMBASE, Web of Science, and PubMed (NLM) from database were searched inception through Week 23, 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the clinical efficacy of BTX injection to placebo or conventional therapy on lower limbs spasticity after stroke were included. We constructed random effects models and calculated mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes.

Results: One thousand three hundred and forty-three records were identified and among them 7 articles (603 patients) were eligible for the final analysis. A statistically significant decrease in muscle tone was observed at week 4 and 12 after injection (Subgroup analysis, SMD = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.2–1.5; p = 0.001; I² = 81% and SMD = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.07–0.77; p = 0.02; I² = 45%, respectively). Patients who received in BTX therapy were likely to have significant increased Fugl-Meyer score than control group with MD = 3.19 (95% CI: 0.22–6.16, p = 0.04, I² = 96%). There was no difference in gait speed between two groups during whole follow-up period.

Conclusion: BTX showed more persistent clinical benefits in lower limbs spasticity and Fugl-Meyer score than placebo in patients after stroke. These results suggest that BTX could be a useful and safety strategy for the treatment of lower limbs spasticity after stroke. Further investigation is required to determine the effectiveness of BTX injection for stroke patients with optimal timing and dose of intervention.     

Transferring Stroke Knowledge from Children to Parents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Community Stroke Educational Programs

Background

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis on child-to-parent communication of stroke information (Child-Mediated Stroke Communication, CMSC) is to provide the highest levels of evidence supporting the role of this approach in community education.

Direct Aspiration versus Stent Retriever Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in 9127 Patients

Background: The two most common approaches to thrombectomy of emergent large vessel occlusion (direct aspiration and primary stent retriever thrombectomy) have been extensively studied; however, the detailed benefit and risk comparison is largely unknown. Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare radiographic and clinical outcomes between the use of primary stent retrievers and direct aspiration in management of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: PubMed database was searched for studies between September 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 with acute ischemic stroke patients. Results: We identified 64 studies with 6875 patients in the primary stent retriever group and 25 studies with 2252 patients in the aspiration group. Primary aspiration alone, without the need of rescue stent retriever devices within the aspiration cohort, was performed in 65% of 2252 patients. There was no difference in the distribution of emergent large vessel occlusion based on occlusion site, age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, or the use of intravenous tPA (P?=?.19, .051, .23, and .093, respectively). Successful recanalization rates, defined as thrombolysis in cerebral Infarction 2b/3, were significantly higher in the aspiration group than the primary stent retriever group (89% versus 80%, P < .0001). No significant difference in good clinical outcome, defined as modified Rankin scale 0-2 (aspiration 52% versus stent 48%, P?=?.13), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (aspiration 5.6% versus stent 7.2%, P?=?.07), and mortality at 3 months (aspiration 15% versus stent 19%, P?=?.10). Conclusions: Both aspiration-first (including the subsequent use of stent retriever) and primary stent retriever thrombectomy approaches are equally effective in achieving good clinical outcomes. Our study suggests that direct aspiration with or without subsequent use of stent retriever is a safe and effective alternative to primary stent retriever in acute ischemic stroke.     

Association between Common Genetic Variants in ESR1 and Stroke Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: The associations between estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) polymorphisms and stroke risk have been investigated in various studies, but remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the relationships between ESR1 rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms and the risk of stroke. Methods: Electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP database, and WanFang database were searched for eligible studies up to March 2019. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of associations under different genetic models. Results: Ten independent case-control studies including 2151 stroke cases and 6378 control subjects were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results indicated that ESR1 rs2234693 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of stroke in recessive model (OR, 1.20; 95%CI, 1.04-1.38) and homozygous model (OR, 1.18; 95%CI, 1.00-1.38). Subgroup analysis on stroke subtype showed that rs2234693 polymorphism was connected with ischemic stroke, but not hemorrhagic stroke. The further subgroup analyses on ethnicity and gender suggested that the association between rs2234693 polymorphism and stroke risk was significant in Caucasian population and in the male population. No positive associations between rs9340799 polymorphism and stroke risk were detected in 4 genetic models. Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that ESR1 rs2234693 polymorphism is significantly correlated with an increased risk of stroke, especially ischemic stroke. There was no evidence of a significant association between ESR1 rs9340799 polymorphism and stroke risk.     

Water-Based Exercise on Functioning and Quality of Life in Poststroke Persons: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To investigate the effects of water-based exercise on functioning and quality of life in poststroke persons. Data Sources: We searched the following electronic database: MEDLINE, PeDro, Scielo, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to September 2018 Study Selection: Only randomized controlled trials were included. Two review authors screened the titles and abstracts and selected the trials independently. Data Extraction: Two review authors independently extracted data of the included trials, using standard data-extraction model. We analyzed the pooled results using weighted mean differences, and standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Data Synthesis: Twenty-four studies met the study criteria, but only 15 studies were included on meta-analyses. The studies presented moderate methodological quality, due to the lack of blinding of subjects and therapists and the nonperformance of the intention-to-treat analysis. Water-based exercise compared with land exercise had a positive impact on: muscle strength balance gait speed and mobility aerobic capacity and functional reach. Combined water-based exercise and land exercise was more effective than land exercise for improving balance, gait speed, and functional reach. The meta-analysis showed significant improvement in role limitations due to physical functioning and emotional problems, in vitality general mental health, social functioning, and bodily pain for participants in the water-based exercise and land exercise group versus land exercise group. Conclusions: Water-based exercise may improve muscle strength, balance, mobility, aerobic capacity, functional reach, joint position sense, and quality of life in poststroke persons and could be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs.     

Association of Hyponatremia and Risk of Short- and Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BackgroundHyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the clinic practice and it is closely related to the prognosis of various diseases. Studies reported that hyponatremia increased the risk of stroke mortality while yielded inconsistent findings during the follow-up period. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between hyponatremia and the short-term (within 90 days) and long-term (more than 1 year) prognosis of stroke patients was conducted.MethodsA computerized systematic literature search was performed before November of 2018 for relevant articles evaluating the relationship between hyponatremia and all-cause mortality risk in stroke patients. Pooled relative risk (RR) and hazard risk (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the follow-up period, types of stroke, different controls, sample size, and sampling time.ResultsA total of 12 studies with 21,973 patients were identified. Compared to the nonhyponatremia patients, hyponatremia was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality in short-term (RR 1.61, 95% CI 1.33-1.96; HR 1.78 95% CI 1.19-2.75) and long-term follow-up (RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.27-2.47; HR 2.23,95% CI 1.30-3.82). Subgroups analysis showed the similar results in most subgroups.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis concludes that hyponatremia has a significant prognostic value for short- and long-term prognosis to stroke patients.     

Workflow and Outcomes of Endovascular Thrombectomy for In-Hospital Stroke a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and PurposeAcute strokes due to large vessel occlusion in hospitalized patients is not uncommon. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the timing and outcome of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for in-hospital stroke.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis of clinical studies published in English until September 2020 in the MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. Studies reporting original data on the characteristics and outcomes of in-hospital stroke patients treated with EVT were included. We extracted data on the time-metrics from last known well (LKW) until reperfusion was achieved. We also collected data on procedural and functional outcomes.ResultsOut of 5093 retrieved studies, 8 were included (2,622 patients). The median age was 71.4 years and median NIHSS score on admission was 16. Patients were mostly admitted to the cardiology service (27.3%). The pooled time from LKW to recognition by staff was 72.9 min (95% CI: 40.7 to 105 min). 25.6% received IV tPA. The mean time from stroke recognition to arterial puncture was 134.5 min (95% CI: 94.9 to 174.1). Successful reperfusion occurred in 82.8.% with a pooled mean time from detection to reperfusion of 193.1 min (95% CI: 139.5 to 246.7). The 90-day independent functional outcome was reported in 42% of patients (95% CI 29 to 55%).ConclusionEVT can be performed safely and successfully for in-hospital strokes. Noticeable delays from LKW to detection and then to puncture are noted. This calls for better stroke pathways to identify and treat these patients.BackgroundStroke in hospitalized patients, referred to as in-hospital stroke (IHS), accounts for 2.2–17% of all strokes.¹ The majority of these are ischemic while intracranial hemorrhage represents 2–11% of all IHS.¹ These patients are expected to have a rapid diagnosis and treatment given the ongoing medical supervision, and therefore favorable outcomes.^1–3 However, existing studies report poor outcomes in patients with IHS with a mortality risk that exceeds that of community-onset stroke (COS): 24.7% vs 9.6%.⁴ Surviving IHS patients are also less likely to be discharged home compared to COS (27.7% vs 49.9%) and to be functionally independent at 3 months (31.0% vs 50.4%).^1–4