Nineteen-year trends in risk factors, clinical characteristics and prognosis in lacunar infarcts.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular risk factors, clinical features and early outcome of first-ever cerebral lacunar infarcts from 1986 to 2004, using the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry, were assessed and compared with data from patients with nonlacunar infarction.


METHODS
The study population consisted of 566 patients with lacunar infarct and 1,516 patients with nonlacunar infarct. Secular trends for the periods 1986-1992, 1993-1998 and 1999-2004 were analyzed.


RESULTS
Age and the percentage of very old patients (≥85 years old) increased significantly (p < 0.001) throughout the time period. There was a significant decrease in the percentage of patients with hypertension, but the percentage of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased. The use of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also increased significantly. The median length of hospital stay decreased significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant changes over a 19-year period included an increase in the patients' age, frequency of very old patients (≥85 years old) and use of MRI studies, whereas the frequency of hypertension and length of hospital stay decreased.
Arboix
Adrià
A
Cerebrovascular Division, Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari del Sagrat Cor, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. aarboix@hscor.com
Massons
Joan
J
García-Eroles
Luís
L
Targa
Cecília
C
Comes
Emili
E
Parra
Olga
O
Oliveres
Montserrat
M
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology