Magnitude of and risk factors for in-hospital and postdischarge stroke in patients with acute coronary syndromes: findings from a Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events.
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a recognized complication after acute myocardial infarction, but few studies have investigated the incidence and outcome of stroke in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study examined the incidence and outcomes of hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic stroke and risk factors associated with stroke in patients with ACS.


RESULTS
Data were obtained from 35,233 patients enrolled in the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) with an ACS. In-hospital strokes occurred in 310 patients (0.9%), of which 100 (32.6%) were fatal. The incidence of in-hospital stroke was significantly higher in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction than in non-ST-segment myocardial infarction or unstable angina (1.3%, 0.9%, 0.5%, respectively; P<0.001). Overall, 35.5% of in-hospital strokes occurred within 6 days of hospitalization. The strongest risk factor for in-hospital nonhemorrhagic stroke was in-hospital CABG, followed by in-hospital atrial fibrillation, previous stroke, initial enzyme elevation, and advanced age. Prior statin use was a protective factor. After controlling for potential confounders, in-hospital mortality was significantly higher among patients who experienced an in-hospital stroke (adjusted odds ratio, 8.3; 95% CI, 6.0 to 11.4). A total of 269 additional strokes (1.1%) occurred within 6 months after discharge from hospital, of which 56 (20.9%) were fatal. The most important risk factor for postdischarge stroke was the occurrence of an in-hospital stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
Stroke is an uncommon event in patients with ACS but is associated with high mortality. Despite current therapy, the incidence of postdischarge stroke is not low. New approaches are warranted to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with ACS.
Budaj
Andrzej
A
Postgraduate Medical School, Grochowski Hospital, Grenadierów 51/59, 04-073 Warsaw, Poland. abudaj@kkcmkp.pl.
Flasinska
Katarzyna
K
Gore
Joel M
JM
Anderson
Frederick A
FA
Dabbous
Omar H
OH
Spencer
Frederick A
FA
Goldberg
Robert J
RJ
Fox
Keith A A
KA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome