title: Etiologic subtype predicts outcome in mild stroke: prospective data from a hospital stroke registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies on whether etiologic subtype can predict outcome in mild stroke are available. The study aim to explore the effect of different etiologic subtype on prognosis of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively registered consecutive cases of acute ischemic stroke from September. 01, 2009 to August. 31, 2011. Patients with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≦3 and within 30 days of symptom onset were included. All cause death or disability (defined as modified Rankin Scale >2) were followed up at 3 months. The multivariate logistical regression model was used to analyse relationship between etiologic subtype and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We included 680 cases, which accounted for 41.1% (680/1655) of the total registered cases. Mean age were 62.54 ± 13.51 years, and males were 65.4%. The median time of symptoms onset to admission was 72 hours. 3.8% (26/680) of cases admitted within 3 hours and 4.7% (32/680) admitted within 4.5 hours. However, no patient received intravenous thrombolysis. Of included patients, 21.5% large-artery atherosclerosis, 40.6% small-vessel disease, 7.5% cardioembolisms, 2.2% other causes and 28.2% undetermined causes. The rate of case fatality and death/disability was 2.2% and 10.1% respectively at 3 months. After adjustment of potential confounders, such as age, sex, NIHSS on admission and vascular risk factors et al., cardioembolism (RR = 3.395;95%CI 1.257 ~ 9.170) was the predictor of death or disability at 3 months and small vessel occlusion (RR = 0.412;95%CI 0.202 ~ 0.842) was the protective factor of death or disability at 3 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different etiologic subtype can predict the outcome in patients with mild stroke and it can help to stratify these patients for individual decision-making.
authors.forename: Zilong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: From the Stroke Clinical Research Unit, Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No 37, Guo Xue Xiang, Chengdu 610041, China. wyplmh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Deren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wendan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Xueli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult