The Longterm Prognostic Factors After Acute Cerebral Infartion

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: There are few reports of affecting factors of the longterm prognosis after acute ischemic stroke. The aim of this prospective study was to determine which variables, of those easily measurable during the first 24 hours after stroke onset, would be predictors of longterm outcome. METHOD: Ninety-eight patients with an acute ischemic stroke were evaluated within 24 hours after symptom onset. The following potential affecting factors of outcome were prospectively collected demographic datas, socioeconomic factors, risk factors of cerebrovascular accidents, clinical f indings as measured by the National Institute of Health (NIH) scale, laboratory findings and premorbid varibles rated according to modified Rankin score (mRS). We evaluated the outcome, assessed with mRS as good (mRS 3 or less) and poor (mRS 4, 5 or death) and follow up was undertaken at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after onset. The statistical analysis was performed by means of SPSS/PC+package to determine the longterm prognostic factors. RESULTS: The multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the outcome depend on NIH scale(p<0.001), age (p<0.01), previous stroke(p<0.01), loss of consciousness (LOC) at onset (phemiparesis (pCONCLUSION: Besides age and severity, history of previous stroke could affect longterm outcome. These data highlights the importance of longterm secondary of vascular events in stroke patients.