title: Higher leukocyte count is associated with higher risk of 3-year mortality in non-diabetic patients with first-ever ischemic stroke.
abstract: Leukocyte count predicted the risk of first-time myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. The aim of this study was to determine the role of elevated leukocyte count in non-diabetic patients admitted for acute first-ever ischemic stroke on clinical presentation and 3-year mortality. We studied 462 patients with acute first-ever ischemic stroke without diabetes mellitus or active infection at admission. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to their leukocyte count. A white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 10,000/μL was defined as an elevated leukocyte count, otherwise as normal. Clinical presentation, risk factors for stroke, laboratory data, co-morbidities, and outcomes were recorded. 64 patients (13.9%) had elevated leukocytes. Multivariate logistic regression showed that an elevated platelet count was positively associated with the elevated leukocyte count, while a low serum sodium level was negatively associated with an elevated leukocyte count (P=0.008, P=0.003, respectively). An elevated leukocyte count was associated with a higher risk of a stroke in evolution (P=0.021). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that an elevated leukocyte count is a significant predictor of 3-year mortality [P=0.010, HR=3.26 (1.33-7.98)]. In conclusion, higher leukocyte counts during the acute stroke stage are associated with increased risk of 3-year mortality in patients with acute, first-ever ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung branch, Taiwan, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tsung-I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Wei-Chieh
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Yu-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Chia-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kuan-Hsing
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000639:trends*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality*; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends