Practice patterns for acute ischemic stroke workup: A longitudinal population‐based study

Background We examined practice patterns of inpatient testing to identify stroke etiologies and treatable risk factors for acute ischemic stroke recurrence. Methods and Results We identified stroke cases and related diagnostic testing from four 1‐year study periods (July 1993 to June 1994, 1999, 2005, and 2010) of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study. Patients aged ≥18 years were included. We focused on evaluation of extracranial arteries for carotid stenosis and assessment of atrial fibrillation because randomized controlled trials supported treatment of these conditions for stroke prevention across all 4 study periods. In each study period, we also recorded stroke etiology, as determined by diagnostic testing and physician adjudication. An increasing proportion of stroke patients received assessment of both extracranial arteries and the heart over time (50%, 58%, 74%, and 78% in the 1993–1994, 1999, 2005, and 2010 periods, respectively; P &lt;0.0001 for trend), with the most dramatic individual increases in echocardiography (57%, 63%, 77%, and 83%, respectively). Concurrently, we observed a decrease in strokes of unknown etiology (47%, 48%, 41%, and 38%, respectively; P &lt;0.0001 for trend). We also found a significant increase in strokes of other known causes (32%, 25%, 45% and 59%, respectively; P &lt;0.0001 for trend). Conclusions Stroke workup for treatable causes of stroke are being used more frequently over time, and this is associated with a decrease in cryptogenic strokes. Future study of whether better determination of treatable stroke etiologies translates to a decrease in stroke recurrence at the population level will be essential. </jats:sec

Prehospital neurological deterioration in stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with stroke can experience neurological deterioration in the prehospital setting. We evaluated patients with stroke to determine factors associated with prehospital neurological deterioration (PND). METHODS: Among the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region (population ~1.3 million), we screened all 15 local hospitals' admissions from 2010 for acute stroke and included patients aged ≥20. The GCS was compared between emergency medical services (EMS) arrival and hospital arrival, with decrease ≥2 points considered PND. Data obtained retrospectively included demographics, medical history and medication use, stroke subtype (eg, ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)) and IS subtype (eg, small vessel, large vessel, cardioembolic), seizure at onset, time intervals between symptom onset, EMS arrival and hospital arrival, EMS level of training, and blood pressure and serum glucose on EMS arrival. RESULTS: Of 2708 total patients who had a stroke, 1092 patients (median (IQR) age 74 (61-83) years; 56% women; 21% black) were analysed. PND occurred in 129 cases (12%), including 9% of IS, 24% of ICH and 16% of SAH. In multivariable analysis, black race, atrial fibrillation, haemorrhagic subtype and ALS level of transport were associated with PND. CONCLUSION: Haemorrhage and atrial fibrillation is associated with PND in stroke, and further investigation is needed to establish whether PND can be predicted. Further studies are also needed to assess whether preferential transport of patients with deterioration to hospitals equipped with higher levels of care is beneficial, identify why race is associated with deterioration and to test therapies targeting PND

Measuring the dynamical state of Planck SZ-selected clusters: X-ray peak - BCG offset

We want to characterize the dynamical state of galaxy clusters detected with the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect by Planck and compare them with the dynamical state of clusters selected in X-rays survey. We analysed a representative subsample of the Planck SZ catalogue, containing the 132 clusters with the highest signal to noise ratio and characterize their dynamical state using as an indicator the projected offset between the peak of the X-ray emission and the position of the Brightest cluster galaxy. We compare the distribution of this indicator for the Planck SZ-selected sample and three X-ray-selected samples (HIFLUGCS, MACS and REXCESS). The distributions are significantly different and the fraction of relaxed objects is smaller in the Planck sample (52 ± 4 per cent) than in X-ray samples (≃74 per cent) We interpret this result as an indication of different selection effects affecting X-rays (e.g. `cool core bias') and SZ surveys of galaxy clusters

VizieR Online Data Catalog: X-ray_peak-BCG offset for PSZ1 clusters (Rossetti+, 2016)

The starting point of our analysis is the Planck cosmology sample (PSZ1-cosmo) described in Planck Collaboration XX (2014A&A...571A..20P). It is a high-purity subsample constructed from the first release of the Planck catalogue of SZ sources (Planck Collaboration XXIX, 2014A&A...571A..29P, Cat. VIII/91), by imposing a signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) threshold of 7 and applying a mask, that excludes the galactic plane and point sources leaving 65 per cent of the sky for the survey. It contains 189 bona fide clusters with associated redshifts and has been used for the cosmological analysis with cluster number counts described in Planck Collaboration XX (2014A&A...571A..20P). (2 data files)

Gender and Time to Arrival among Ischemic Stroke Patients in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background Some studies of stroke patients report longer pre-hospital delays in women, but others conflict; studies vary in their inclusion of factors including age and stroke severity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between gender and time to emergency department (ED) arrival and the influence of age and stroke severity on this relationship. Methods Ischemic stroke patients ≥ 20 years old who presented to 15 hospitals within a 5-county region of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky during 2010 were included. Time from symptom onset to ED arrival and covariates were abstracted by study nurses and reviewed by study physicians. Data were analyzed using logistic regression with time to arrival dichotomized at ≤ 3 hours, in the overall sample and then stratified by NIHSS and age. Results 1991 strokes (55% women) were included. Time to arrival was slightly longer in women (geometric mean 337 minutes [95%CI 307–369] vs. 297 [95%CI 268–329], p =0.05), and 24% of women vs. 27% of men arrived within 3 hours (p=0.15). After adjusting for age, race, NIHSS, living situation, and other covariates, gender was not associated with delayed time to arrival (OR=1.00, 95%CI 0.78–1.28). This did not change across age or NIHSS categories. Conclusions After adjusting for factors including age, NIHSS, and living alone, women and men with ischemic stroke had similar times to arrival. Arrival time is not likely a major contributor to differences in outcome between men and women

Sex-specific stroke incidence over time in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

OBJECTIVE: Recent data suggest stroke incidence is decreasing over time, but it is unknown whether incidence is decreasing in women and men to the same extent. METHODS: Within our population of 1.3 million, all incident strokes among residents ≥20 years old were ascertained at all hospitals during July 1993-June 1994 and calendar years 1999, 2005, and 2010. A sampling scheme was used to ascertain out-of-hospital cases. Sex-specific incidence rates per 100,000 among black and white participants, age- and race-adjusted, were standardized to the 2000 US Census population. Trends over time by sex were compared; a Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Over the 4 study periods, there were 7,710 incident strokes; 57.2% (n = 4,412) were women. Women were older than men (mean ± SE 72.4 ± 0.34 vs 68.2 ± 0.32, p < 0.001). Incidence of all strokes decreased over time in men (263 [confidence interval 246-281] to 192 [179-205], p < 0.001) but not in women (217 [205-230] to 198 [187-210], p = 0.15). Similar sex differences were seen for ischemic stroke (men, 238 [223-257] to 165 [153-177], p < 0.01; women, 193 [181-205] to 173 [162-184], p = 0.09). Incidence of all strokes and of ischemic strokes was similar between women and men in 2010. Incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage were stable over time in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in stroke incidence over time are driven by a decrease in ischemic stroke in men. Contrary to previous study periods, stroke incidence rates were similar by sex in 2010. Future research is needed to understand why the decrease in ischemic stroke incidence is more pronounced in men

Stable incidence but declining case-fatality rates of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a population

Objective: To characterize temporal trends in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) incidence and outcomes over 5 time periods in a large population-based stroke study in the United States. Methods: All SAHs among residents of the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region at least 20 years of age were identified and verified via study physician review in 5 distinct year-long study periods between 1988 and 2010. We abstracted demographics, care patterns, and outcomes, and we compared incidence and case-fatality rates across the study periods. Results: The incidence of SAH in the 5 study periods (age-, race-, and sex-adjusted to the 2000 US population) was 8.8 (95% confidence interval 6.8–10.7), 9.2 (7.2–11.2), 10.0 (8.0–12.0), 9.0 (7.1–10.9), and 7.7 (6.0–9.4) per 100,000, respectively; the trend in incidence rates from 1988 to 2010 was not statistically significant (p = 0.22). Advanced neurovascular imaging, endovascular coiling, and neurologic intensive care unit availability increased significantly over time. All-cause 5-day (32%–18%, p = 0.01; for trend), 30-day (46%–25%, p = 0.001), and 90-day (49%–29%, p = 0.001) case-fatality rates declined from 1988 to 2010. When we included only proven or highly likely aneurysmal SAH, the declines in case-fatality were no longer statistically significant. Conclusions: Although the incidence of SAH remained stable in this population-based region, 5-day, 30-day, and 90-day case-fatality rates declined significantly. Advances in surgical and medical management, along with systems-based changes such as the emergence of neurocritical care units, are potential explanations for the reduced case-fatality

Sex differences in cardiovascular risk profiles of ischemic stroke patients with diabetes in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Background The aim of the present study was to compare sex-specific associations between cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes mellitus (DM) among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study (GCNKSS). Methods The GCNKSS ascertained AIS cases in 2005 and 2010 among adult (age ≥ 20 years) residents of a biracial population of 1.3 million. Past and current stroke risk factors were compared between those with and without DM using Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine sex-specific profiles. Results There were 3515 patients with incident AIS; 1919 (55%) were female, 697 (20%) were Black, and 1146 (33%) had DM. Among both women and men with DM, significantly more were obese and had hypertension, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease (CAD) compared with those without DM. For women with AIS, multivariable sex-specific adjusted analyses revealed that older age was associated with decreased odds of having DM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.80–0.98). For women with CAD, the odds of DM were increased (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33–2.32). Age and CAD were not significant factors in differentiating the profiles of men with and without DM. Conclusions Women with DM had strokes at a younger age, whereas no such age difference existed in men. Compared with men, women with DM were also more likely to have CAD than those without DM, suggesting a sex difference in the association between DM and vascular disease. These findings may suggest a need for more aggressive risk factor management in diabetic women

Potentially Missed Diagnosis of Ischemic Stroke in the Emergency Department in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Study

Missed diagnoses of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the ED may result in lost opportunities to treat AIS. Our objectives were to describe the rate and clinical characteristics of missed AIS in the ED, to determine clinical predictors of missed AIS, and to report tissue plasminogen (tPA) eligibility among those with missed strokes

Temporal Trends of Sex Differences in Transient Ischemic Attack Incidence Within a Population

Objective: Previously we reported that ischemic stroke incidence is declining over time for men but not women. We sought to describe temporal trends of sex differences in incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) within the same large, biracial population. Methods: Among the population of 1.3 million in the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Stroke Study (GCNKSS) region, TIAs among area residents (≥20 years old) were identified at all local hospitals. Out of hospital cases were ascertained using a sampling scheme. First-ever cases and first within each study period for a patient were included in incidence rates. All cases were physician-adjudicated. Incidence rates (during 7/93-6/94 and calendar years 1999, 2005, and 2010) were calculated using the age-, race-, and sex-specific number of TIAs divided by the GCNKSS population in that group; rates were standardized to the 2010 U.S. population. T-tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare rates over time. Results: There were a total of 4746 TIA events; 53% were female, and 12% were black. In males, incidence decreased from 153 (95%CI 139-167) per 100,000 in 1993/4 to 117 (95%CI 107-128) in 2010 (p0.05). Conclusions: Within the GCNKSS population, TIA incidence decreased significantly over time in males but not females, data which parallels trends in ischemic stroke in the GCNKSS over the same time period. Future research is needed to determine if these sex differences in incidence over time continue past 2010