title: β-Blockers, Pneumonia, and Outcome After Ischemic Stroke: Evidence From Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased sympathetic drive after stroke is involved in the pathophysiology of several complications including poststroke immunudepression. β-Blocker (BB) therapy has been suggested to have neuroprotective properties and to decrease infectious complications after stroke. We aimed to examine the effects of random pre- and on-stroke BB exposure on mortality, functional outcome, and occurrence of pneumonia after ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data including standard demographic and clinical variables as well as prestroke and on-stroke antihypertensive medication, incidence of pneumonia, functional outcome defined using modified Rankin Scale and mortality at 3 months were extracted from the Virtual International Stroke Trials Archive. For statistical analysis multivariable Poisson regression was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 5212 patients were analyzed. A total of 1155 (22.2%) patients were treated with BB before stroke onset and 244 (4.7%) patients were newly started with BB in the acute phase of stroke. Mortality was 17.5%, favorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale, 0-2) occurred in 58.2% and pneumonia in 8.2% of patients. Prestroke BB showed no association with mortality. On-stroke BB was associated with reduced mortality (adjusted risk ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.96). Neither prestroke BB nor on-stroke BB showed an association with functional outcome. Both prestroke and on-stroke BB were associated with reduced frequency of pneumonia (adjusted risk ratio, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-0.98 and risk ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this large nonrandomized comparison, on-stroke BB was associated with reduced mortality. Prestroke and on-stroke BB were inversely associated with incidence of nosocomial pneumonia. Randomized trials investigating the potential of β-blockade in acute stroke may be warranted.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (M.S., J.D.); Department of Neurology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia (P.S.); and Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany (J.D.). mareksykora@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sykora
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (M.S., J.D.); Department of Neurology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia (P.S.); and Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany (J.D.).
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siarnik
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany (M.S., J.D.); Department of Neurology, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia (P.S.); and Department of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany (J.D.).
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diedler
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001109:Archives; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents
keywords: autonomic nervous system; beta-blockers, androgenic; infection; mortality; outcome assessment; pneumonia; stroke