Statin Use and the Risk of Dementia in Patients with Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

Background: Patients with stroke have an increased risk of dementia. Some studies have found that statin use might lower the risk of incident dementia; however, there is still a lack of data from patients with stroke. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the impact of statin use on the risk of dementia in patients with stroke.

Prevalence and Determinants of Sleep Apnea in Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis

ObjectivesRecent meta-analyses have noted that ∼70% of transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke patients have sleep apnea. However, the heterogeneity between studies was high and did not appear to be accounted by the phase of stroke. We conducted an updated meta-analysis and aimed to determine whether the prevalence of sleep apnea amongst stroke patients differs by the subtype, etiology, severity and location of stroke and hence could account for some of the unexplained heterogeneity observed in previous studies.Materials and MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Cochrane Library (from their commencements to July 2020) for studies which reported the prevalence of sleep apnea by using polysomnography in TIA/stroke patients. We used random-effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence of sleep apnea and explored whether the prevalence differed by stroke characteristics.ResultsSeventy-five studies describing 8670 stroke patients were included in this meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of sleep apnea was numerically higher in patients with hemorrhagic vs. ischemic stroke [82.7% (64.4–92.7%) vs. 67.5% (63.2–71.5%), p=0.098], supratentorial vs. infratentorial stroke [64.4% (56.7–71.4%) vs. 56.5% (42.2–60.0%), p=0.171], and cardioembolic [74.3% (59.6–85.0%)] vs. other ischemic stroke subtypes [large artery atherosclerosis: 68.3% (52.5–80.7%), small vessel occlusion: 56.1% (38.2–72.6%), others/undetermined: 47.9% (31.6–64.6%), p=0.089]. The heterogeneity in sleep apnea prevalence was partially accounted by the subtype (1.9%), phase (5.0%) and location of stroke (14.0%) among reported studies.ConclusionsThe prevalence of sleep apnea in the stroke population appears to differ by the subtype, location, etiology and phase of stroke.     

Subclinical Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Study with Ultrasonography

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an advanced form of atherosclerosis defined by an abnormal ankle-brachial index (ABI). However, the ABI provides no information about the location of atherosclerosis. We investigated the clinical implication of PAD confirmed using lower-extremity ultrasonography (LEUS), with consideration of the atherosclerosis location. Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent LEUS were enrolled. Patients with PAD were further divided into those with PAD at the proximal (above-popliteal artery, PADP) and distal (below-tibialis artery, PADD) segments. The clinical outcome was compared between patients with and without PAD, and between PADP and PADD. The atherosclerosis location in the cerebral artery was also compared between groups. Results: Among 289 patients, PAD was observed in 108 (37.4%) patients (43 had PADP and 65 had PADD). Patients with PAD were slightly older (P < .001) and had more significant carotid artery stenosis (30.6% versus 12.7%, P < .001) than those without. Patients with PAD had poor 3-month functional outcome than those without (modified-Rankin Scale score: 3 [interquartile range, 1-4] versus 2 [1-3], respectively, P = .003). Diabetes, high-stroke severity, and the presence of PADP (odds ratio, 3.893; 95% confidence interval, 1.454-10.425; P = .007) were independently associated with poor functional outcome at 3 months. Patients with PADP showed higher prevalence of extracranial stenosis than those with PADD (41.9% versus 23.1%; P = .038). Conclusions: Our study suggests that subclinical PAD, especially PADP, is associated with poor functional outcome at 3 months after stroke onset. Interestingly, the location of cerebral atherosclerosis differed according to the location of PAD.     

A Meta-analytic Study of Predictors for Informal Caregiver Burden in Patients With Stroke

Background

Several studies have reported on predictors for caregiver burden in patients with stroke, but the magnitude of the impact of these variables remains unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the magnitude of relationship between each predictor and caregiver burden.

Prevalence of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Elderly Parkinson Disease Patients: A Case-Control Study

BackgroundThe clinical picture of obsessive-compulsive disorder encompasses a broad range of symptoms that are related to multiple psychological domains, including perception, cognition, emotion, and social relatedness. As obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) frequently have an early onset, there are limited data about OCS in older populations (≥65 years) and, in particular, in elderly subjects with Parkinson disease (PD).ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the prevalence of OCS using a self-report measure (Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised) and to identify associated sociodemographic and clinical factors in a sample of elderly PD patients compared to a comparison group of similarly aged healthy volunteers.ResultsThe mean age was 74 ± 6 years in the PD patients and 73 ± 7 years in the comparison group. The mean disease duration was 9.6 ± 5.8 years. Among the PD patients, 30.7% reported at least one OCS or a related disorder compared to 21.1% in the comparison group. Hoarding was significantly more common in PD patients than in the comparison group.ConclusionsSubclinical OCS were present at a high percentage in both PD patients and comparison group. The OCS phenotype in PD may present differently, as hoarding was more common in PD patients.     

Predictors of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-based Study

BackgroundDiabetes and obesity are established risk factors for stroke. The current study aimed to assess risk factors of ischemic stroke recurrence in diabetic patients based on their body mass index (BMI).MethodsA total of 4005 diabetic patients who had a history of ischemic stroke were identified in a retrospective cross-sectional dataset from the Malaysian National Neurology Registry. Patients were classified based on BMI, and multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between risk factors and recurrent ischemic stroke.ResultsAmong obese patients, those with ischemic heart disease (aOR, 1.873; 95% CI, 1.131–3.103), received formal education (aOR, 2.236; 95% CI, 1.306–3.830), and received anti-diabetic medication (aOR, 1.788; 95% CI, 1.180–2.708) had a higher stroke recurrence risk, while receiving angiotensin receptors blockers (aOR, 0.261; 95% CI, 0.126–0.543) lowered the odds of recurrence. Overweight patients with hypertension (aOR, 1.011; 95% CI, 1.002–1.019) for over 10 years (aOR, 3.385; 95% CI, 1.088–10.532) and diabetes prior to the first stroke (aOR, 1.823; 95% CI, 1.020–3.259) as well as those received formal education (aOR, 2.403; 95% CI, 1.126–5.129) had higher odds of stroke recurrence, while receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (aOR, 0.244; 95% CI, 0.111–0.538) lowered the recurrence risk. Normal weight East Malaysians (aOR, 0.351; 95% CI, 0.164–0.750) receiving beta-blockers (aOR, 0.410; 95% CI, 0.174–0.966) had lower odds of stroke recurrence.ConclusionsIschemic heart disease, hypertension, receiving anti-hypertensive agents, and educational level were independent predictors of recurrent stroke in obese patients. Managing the modifiable risk factors can decrease the odds of stroke recurrence.     

Prevalence and Predictors of Multivitamin Supplement Use After Stroke in Ghana

BackgroundMultivitamins are commonly used supplements in high income countries, but their net benefit-risk, remains inconclusive. Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of multivitamin supplementation among individual with chronic illnesses in sub-Saharan Africa, especially stroke.PurposeTo assess the frequency and factors associated with of use of multivitamin supplement among stroke survivors in Ghana.MethodsWe analyzed prospectively collected data on consecutively encountered stroke survivors seen at an out-patient clinic in Ghana between January 2018 and March 2020. We collected baseline demographic and clinical details, and use of multivitamins among other secondary prevention medications prescribed. We assessed factors associated with multivitamin supplementation using a multivariable logistic regression analysis.ResultsAmong 1,101 stroke survivors, 324 (29.4%) were on multivitamin supplements. Factors independently associated with multivitamin use were being divorced (OR 2.88; 95% CI: 1.52–5.47), time since diagnosis of index per each month increase (OR 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99–1.00), and number of prescribed classes of antihypertensive medications (OR 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72–0.92).ConclusionNearly a third of stroke survivors in this Ghanaian sample were on multivitamin supplementation, with select socio-clinical factors being linked to this practice. Future studies should examine how/if this practice is interfering with optimal stroke outcomes.     

Study on the Prevalence and Corelation of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Stroke Patients

Objective To assess the prevalence and severity of carotid atherosclerosis in stroke patients and the risk factors of carotid atherosclerosis. Methods Two hundred fifty-one ischemic stroke patients,46 ccrcbral hemorrhagc patients and 96 control subjects were entercd into this study. Sonographic assessment of the extracranial carotid arteries was performed in all patients. Diametcr. IMT, plaques and percentage ratio of lumen stenosis were observcd. Results (1)The prevalence of carotid plaqucs was prominent in stroke patients than the control subjects(63.0%vs 36.5%). (2)The prevalencc of lumen stenosis＞50% in ischemic stroke patients was higher than the cerebral hemorrhage patients and control subjects (15.6% vs 4.3%. 2.1%).(3) The prevalence of severe carotid artery stcnosis(＞75%) was promincnt in aged 61～70 years old patients.(4)Our data revealed 30% of the cortical infarction subgroup, 17.5%of the subcortical infarction subgroup, 17% of the lacunar infarction subgroup,8% of the vcrtibral-basilar artery infarction subgroup.2.8% of thc CT normal subgroup possessed carotid stcnosis ＞50%. (5)Age, diabetes mellitus and ApoAl(inversely) were independent predictors of the extracranial carotid atherosclcrosis. Discusssion (Ⅰ)There is close relation between extracraniai carotid atherosclerosis and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.(2)The extent of serious carotid artery stcnosis in aged patients was lower.(3)Thc severity of extracranial carotid artery atherosclerosis was prominent in patients with conical infarction. Conclusion There is a high prevalence of extracranial carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese stroke patients.