title: Effects of clinical and laboratory variables at admission and of in-hospital treatment with cardiovascular drugs on short term prognosis of ischemic stroke. The GIFA study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No information exists, to our knowledge, about the possible role of cardiovascular drug administration in the acute phase of ischemic stroke and possible effects on stroke outcome. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between in-hospital treatment with cardiovascular drugs in patients with acute ischemic stroke and some outcome indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1096 subjects enrolled in the GIFA study, who had a main discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke represent the final sample. Drugs considered for the analysis were the following: ACE-inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), statins, calcium-channel-blockers (CCBs), antiplatelet (APL) drugs, antivitamin-k (VKAs), and heparins. As outcome indicators we choose in-hospital mortality, cognitive function evaluated by Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test (HAMT), and functional status evaluated by activity daily living (ADL). Indicators of a good outcome were: no in-hospital mortality, HAMT >6 and 0 ADL impaired. Patients with a good outcome showed a higher rate of in-hospital treatment with ACE-inhibitors, calcium-channel blockers and a lower rate of pre-treatment with heparin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that if a patient with acute ischemic stroke has higher SBP at admission, higher total cholesterol plasma levels, a lower Charlson index and is treated with ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and antiplatelet drugs, the short term outcome is better in terms of in-hospital mortality and functional indicators such as cognitive and functional performance at discharge.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, Università degli Studi di Palermo, P.zza delle Cliniche, n.2, 90127 Palermo, Italy. brunotutto@unipa.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuttolomondo
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Raimondo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Sciacca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Placa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arnao
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Licata
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors