title: Impact of heart rate dynamics on mortality in the early phase after ischemic stroke: a prospective observational trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing evidence suggests that the heart rate (HR) at rest is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. In ischemic stroke, continuous monitoring of HR is the standard of care, but systematic data on its dynamics and prognostic value during the acute phase are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective observational study, HR was measured by continuous electrocardiographic monitoring on admission and during the first 72 hours of care among patients who were awake with ischemic stroke and survived until discharge. Functional outcome was assessed after 90 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 702 consecutive patients were analyzed (median age, 73 years, 54% men). The time course of HR was initially characterized by a rapid decline during the first 12 hours after admission. Among patients who survived until day 90, this was followed by a continuous downward trend in HR, whereas death after discharge was associated with a secondary increase and a reversal point 12 hours after admission. After adjustment for established risk factors, this secondary increase during the acute period was an independent predictor of death (hazard ratio, 3.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-9.43; P = .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A secondary rise of HR during care for acute ischemic stroke is an early sign of fatality and may represent a surrogate for an unfavorable sympathetic disinhibition. Further research is warranted to clarify the role of targeted HR reduction after ischemic stroke (http://clinicaltrials.gov/, unique identifier NCT01858779).
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: bernd.kallmuenzer@uk-erlangen.de.
authors: Bernd
authors: B
authors: Kallmünzer
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Bobinger
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Kopp
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Natalia
authors: N
authors: Kurka
authors: Department of Cardiology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Arnold
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Max-Josef
authors: MJ
authors: Hilz
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Schwab
authors: Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Köhrmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001831:Body Temperature; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ECG; Stroke; heart rate; monitoring; stroke mortality