title: Cardiac Function and Short-Term Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Few studies have investigated the relationship between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if a low LVEF in ischemic stroke was associated with functional outcome. A cross-sectional study was performed on ischemic stroke patients admitted to a single academic stroke center from June 2008 to December 2010. LVEF was determined using transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography. Patients were categorized into three LVEF groups: severely low (<30%), moderately low (30-49%), and normal (>50%). Baseline demographics, in-hospital complications, and early outcomes were compared among LVEF groups using Chi-square, Wilcoxon rank sum, and logistic regression.590 patients met inclusion criteria (median age 65, 74% African American, 48% female). LVEF was normal in 79.8%, moderately low in 10.8%, and severely low in 9.3%. A smaller proportion of patients with severely low LVEF appeared to have good functional outcome compared to other groups (26% vs. 40% vs. 45%, p=0.028); however, this relationship was not significant after adjusting for age, baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score and admission glucose (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.3-1.3, p=0.216). Low LVEF was not an independent, significant predictor of short-term functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Tiffany L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Albright
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Amelia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monlezun
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: T Mark
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.affiliation: Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Tulane University Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112 (TLM, DM, AJG, EJ, SMS); Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (KCA, AKB); Health Services and Outcomes Research Center for Outcome and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) (KCA); Center of Excellence in Comparative Effectiveness Research for Eliminating Disparities (CERED) Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center (MHRC) (KCA); Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249 (TMB).
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin-Schild