Risk factors and acute ischemic stroke subtypes.
BACKGROUND
Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is influenced by gender, age, and the brain site affected. Better characterization of AIS is necessary for improving guidelines, prevention, and destination of resources.


METHODS
Demographics, prestroke conditions, etiology, subtypes, specific hospital outcome, clinical and laboratory parameters, and mortality rates were prospectively registered in 105 southern Italian patients.


RESULTS
AIS became more frequent in women than in men after age 65 years. Cryptogenic AIS decreased with age independently of sex and lesion site. Cerebellum-brainstem stroke was more prevalent in men, whereas anterior AIS was more frequent in women. There were no overall differences in 6- and 12-month survival rates based on site or sex; however, mortality rates were high after age 80 years. Chronic kidney disease was more frequent in patients with cerebellum-brainstem stroke, and its prevalence increased significantly with age independently of sex. Association of AIS with arterial hypertension, diabetes, and previous myocardial infarction increased with age, whereas that with active smoking decreased with age, independently of sex and site.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific AIS etiology and blood characteristics associated independently to the youngest and oldest AIS patients, respectively. Chronic kidney disease was a specific predictor of cerebellum-brainstem AIS. AIS mortality showed peculiar association with the oldest patients.
Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit, Innomed Srl, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Aliaksei
A
Kisialiou
Stroke Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Rodolfo
R
Grella
Vascular Physiopathology Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Albino
A
Carrizzo
Stroke Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Giordana
G
Pelone
NeuroRehabilitation Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Michelangelo
M
Bartolo
NeuroRehabilitation Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Chiara
C
Zucchella
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
Francesco
F
Rozza
Diagnostical & Therapeutical NeuroRadiology Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Grillea
Diagnostical & Therapeutical NeuroRadiology Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy; Department of Neuroradiology, Umberto I Hospital, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Claudio
C
Colonnese
Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy.
Luigi
L
Formisano
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Italy.
Maria
M
Lembo
IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
Annibale A
AA
Puca
Vascular Physiopathology Unit, IRCCS INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, IS, Italy; Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. Electronic address: vecchione@neuromed.it.
Carmine
C
Vecchione
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
Cohort study; Epidemiology; Men; Risk factors; Stroke; Women