title: Non-neurological variables and mortality of acute stroke.
abstract: Acute stroke is associated with high mortality. While this is the direct consequence of the neurological injury, stroke patients develop a number of physiological abnormalities and complications in the acute phase. Extensive research has produced a plethora of information about these non-neurological variables. Different patients have different abnormalities. Some of these variables have severe adverse effects on mortality, both acute and long term. Some of the variables are pre-existing, while others are non-modifiable. The body responds to cerebral tissue injury in a way that seems to lead to further damage to the brain and other vital systems, and patients usually have more than one variable needing attention. Acute stroke presents as a multisystem disease on the verge of multisystem failure. Although there is lack of evidence of the benefits of correcting the deranged variables, it makes clinical sense that non-neurological variables should be identified, monitored and managed, with the aim of improving the outcome of acute stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Kings Mill Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts, UK.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000150:complications; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000925:Anticoagulants; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002784:Cholesterol