Plateauing atrial fibrillation burden in acute ischemic stroke admissions in the United States from 2010 to 2020.

BACKGROUND: Utilization of oral anticoagulants for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) increased in the United States over the last decade. Whether this increase has been accompanied by any change in AF prevalence in AIS at the population level remains unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate trends in AF prevalence in AIS hospitalizations in various age, sex, and racial subgroups over the last decade. METHODS: We used data contained in the 2010-2020 National Inpatient Sample to conduct a serial cross-sectional study. Primary AIS hospitalizations with and without comorbid AF were identified using International Classification of Diseases Codes. Joinpoint regression was used to compute annualized percentage change (APC) in prevalence and to identify points of change in prevalence over time. RESULTS: Of 5,190,148 weighted primary AIS hospitalizations over the study period, 25.1% had comorbid AF. The age- and sex-standardized prevalence of AF in AIS hospitalizations increased across the entire study period 2010-2020 (average APC: 1.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8-1.7%). Joinpoint regression showed that prevalence increased in the period 2010-2015 (APC: 2.8%, 95% CI: 1.9-3.9%) but remained stable in the period 2015-2020 (APC: -0.3%, 95% CI: -1.0 to 1.9%). Upon stratification by age and sex, prevalence increased in all age/sex groups from 2010 to 2015 and continued to increase throughout the entire study period in hospitalizations in men 18-39 years (APC: 4.0%, 95% CI: 0.2-7.9%), men 40-59 years (APC: 3.4%, 95% CI: 1.9-4.9%) and women 40-59 years (APC: 4.4%, 95% CI: 2.0-6.8%). In contrast, prevalence declined in hospitalizations in women 60-79 (APC: -1.0%, 95% CI: -0.5 to -1.5%) and women ⩾ 80 years over the period 2015-2020 but plateaued in hospitalizations in similar-aged men over the same period. CONCLUSION: AF prevalence in AIS hospitalizations in the United States increased over the period 2010-2015, then plateaued over the period 2015-2020 due to declining prevalence in hospitalizations in women ⩾ 60 years and plateauing prevalence in hospitalizations in men ⩾ 60 years.

Development and Internal Validation of Machine Learning Models to Predict Mortality and Disability After Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) improves outcomes in patients with LVO but many still experience mortality or severe disability. We sought to develop machine learning (ML) models that predict 90-day outcomes after MT for LVO. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent MT for LVO between 2015-2021 at a Comprehensive Stroke Center were reviewed. Outcomes included 90-day favorable functional status (mRS 0-2), severe disability (mRS 4-6), and mortality. ML models were trained for each outcome using prethrombectomy data (pre) and with thrombectomy data (post). RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty seven patients met the inclusion criteria. After model screening and hyperparameter tuning the top performing ML model for each outcome and timepoint was random forest (RF). Using only prethrombectomy features, the AUCs for the RFpre models were 0.73 (95% CI 0.62-0.85) for favorable functional status, 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.86) for severe disability, and 0.78 (95% CI 0.64-0.88) for mortality. All of these were better than a standard statistical model except for favorable functional status. Each RF model outperformed Pre, SPAN-100, THRIVE, and HIAT scores (P < 0.0001 for all). The most predictive features were premorbid mRS, age, and NIHSS. Incorporating MT data, the AUCs for the RFpost models were 0.80 (95% CI 0.67-0.90) for favorable functional status, 0.82 (95% CI 0.69-0.91) for severe disability, and 0.71 (95% CI 0.55-0.84) for mortality. CONCLUSIONS: RF models accurately predicted 90-day outcomes after MT and performed better than standard statistical and clinical prediction models.

Demographic Disparities in the Incidence, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcome of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate age-specific, sex-specific, and race-specific incidence of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the State Inpatient Database of Florida (2016-2019), Maryland (2016-2019), and New York (2016-2018). All new cases of PRES in adults (18 years or older) were combined with Census data to compute incidence. We evaluated the generalizability of incident estimates to the entire country using the 2016-2019 National Readmissions Database (NRD). RESULTS: Across the study period, there were 3,716 incident hospitalizations for PRES in the selected states. The age-standardized and sex-standardized incidence of PRES was 2.7 (95% CI 2.5-2.8) cases/100,000/y. Incidence in female patients was >2 times that of male patients (3.7 vs 1.6 cases/100,000/y, p < 0.001). Incidence increased with age in both sexes (p-trend <0.001). Similar demographic distribution of first hospitalization for PRES was also noted in the entire country using the NRD. Age-standardized and sex-standardized PRES incidence in Black patients (4.2/100,000/y) was significantly greater than in Non-Hispanic White (2.7/100,000/y) and Hispanic patients (1.2/100,000/y) (p < 0.001 for pairwise comparisons). DISCUSSION: The incidence of PRES in the United States is approximately 3/100,000/y, but incidence in female patients is >2 times that of male patients. PRES incidence is higher in Black compared with non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients.

Scoping Review of Racial, Ethnic, and Sex Disparities in the Diagnosis and Management of Hemorrhagic Stroke.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the United States, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans experience excessively high incidence rates of hemorrhagic stroke compared with White Americans. Women experience higher rates of subarachnoid hemorrhage than men. Previous reviews detailing racial, ethnic, and sex disparities in stroke have focused on ischemic stroke. We performed a scoping review of disparities in the diagnosis and management of hemorrhagic stroke in the United States to identify areas of disparities, research gaps, and evidence to inform efforts aimed at health equity. METHODS: We included studies published after 2010 that assessed racial and ethnic or sex disparities in the diagnosis or management of patients aged 18 years or older in the United States with a primary diagnosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage or aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. We did not include studies assessing disparities in incidence, risks, or mortality and functional outcomes of hemorrhagic stroke. RESULTS: After reviewing 6,161 abstracts and 441 full texts, 59 studies met our inclusion criteria. Four themes emerged. First, few data address disparities in acute hemorrhagic stroke. Second, racial and ethnic disparities in blood pressure control after intracerebral hemorrhage exist and likely contribute to disparities in recurrence rates. Third, racial and ethnic differences in end-of-life care exist, but further work is required to understand whether these differences represent true disparities in care. Fourth, very few studies specifically address sex disparities in hemorrhagic stroke care. DISCUSSION: Further efforts are necessary to delineate and correct racial, ethnic, and sex disparities in the diagnosis and management of hemorrhagic stroke.

The influence of pre-reperfusion blood pressure on outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated how systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) parameters between presentation and reperfusion influence functional status and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: All patients who underwent MT for LVO at a single institution were reviewed. Independent variables included SBP and MAP measurements obtained on presentation, between presentation and reperfusion (pre-reperfusion), and between groin puncture and reperfusion (thrombectomy). Mean, minimum, maximum, and standard deviations (SD) for SBP and MAP were calculated. Outcomes included 90-day favorable functional status, radiographic ICH (rICH), and symptomatic ICH (sICH). RESULTS: 305 patients were included. Higher pre-reperfusion SBPmax was associated with rICH (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.85) and sICH (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.26-2.72). Higher SBPSD was also associated with rICH (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06-1.81) and sICH (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.12-2.26). Greater SBPmax (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47-0.86), MAPmax (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52-0.97), SBPSD (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46-0.86), and MAPSD (0.63, 95% CI 0.45-0.84) during thrombectomy were associated with lower odds of 90-day favorable functional status. In a subgroup analysis, these associations were primarily limited to patients with intact collateral circulation. Optimal SBPmax cutoffs for predicting rICH were 171 (pre-reperfusion) and 179 mmHg (thrombectomy). Cutoffs for predicting sICH were 178 (pre-reperfusion) and 174 mmHg (thrombectomy). CONCLUSION: Greater maximum BP and variability in BP during the pre-reperfusion period are associated with unfavorable functional status and ICH after MT for anterior circulation LVO.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Global Access For Stroke (MT-GLASS): A Mission Thrombectomy (MT-2020 Plus) Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the well-established potent benefit of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke, access to MT has not been studied globally. We conducted a worldwide survey of countries on 6 continents to define MT access (MTA), the disparities in MTA, and its determinants on a global scale. METHODS: Our survey was conducted in 75 countries through the Mission Thrombectomy 2020+ global network between November 22, 2020, and February 28, 2021. The primary end points were the current annual MTA, MT operator availability, and MT center availability. MTA was defined as the estimated proportion of patients with LVO receiving MT in a given region annually. The availability metrics were defined as ([current MT operators×50/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100 = MT operator availability) and ([current MT centers×150/current annual number of estimated thrombectomy-eligible LVOs]×100= MT center availability). The metrics used optimal MT volume per operator as 50 and an optimal MT volume per center as 150. Multivariable-adjusted generalized linear models were used to evaluate factors associated with MTA. RESULTS: We received 887 responses from 67 countries. The median global MTA was 2.79% (interquartile range, 0.70-11.74). MTA was <1.0% for 18 (27%) countries and 0 for 7 (10%) countries. There was a 460-fold disparity between the highest and lowest nonzero MTA regions and low-income countries had 88% lower MTA compared with high-income countries. The global MT operator availability was 16.5% of optimal and the MT center availability was 20.8% of optimal. On multivariable regression, country income level (low or lower-middle versus high: odds ratio, 0.08 [95% CI, 0.04-0.12]), MT operator availability (odds ratio, 3.35 [95% CI, 2.07-5.42]), MT center availability (odds ratio, 2.86 [95% CI, 1.84-4.48]), and presence of prehospital acute stroke bypass protocol (odds ratio, 4.00 [95% CI, 1.70-9.42]) were significantly associated with increased odds of MTA. CONCLUSIONS: Access to MT on a global level is extremely low, with enormous disparities between countries by income level. The significant determinants of MT access are the country's per capita gross national income, prehospital LVO triage policy, and MT operator and center availability.

Age- and Sex-Specific Trends in Medical Complications After Acute Ischemic Stroke in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that the age and sex-specific prevalence of infectious (pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infection [UTI]) and noninfectious (deep venous thrombosis [DVT], pulmonary embolism [PE], acute renal failure [ARF], acute myocardial infarction [AMI], and gastrointestinal bleeding [GIB]) complications increased after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) hospitalization in the United States from 2007 to 2019. METHODS: We conducted a serial cross-sectional study using the 2007-2019 National Inpatient Sample. Primary AIS admissions in adults (aged 18 years or older) with and without complications were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes. We quantified the age/sex-specific prevalence of complications and used negative binomial regression models to evaluate trends over time. RESULTS: Of 5,751,601 weighted admissions, 51.4% were women. 25.1% had at least 1 complication. UTI (11.8%), ARF (10.1%), pneumonia (3.2%), and AMI (2.5%) were the most common complications, while sepsis (1.7%), GIB (1.1%), DVT (1.2%), and PE (0.5%) were the least prevalent. Marked disparity in complication risk existed by age/sex (UTI: men 18-39 years 2.1%; women 80 years or older 22.5%). Prevalence of UTI (12.9%-9.7%) and pneumonia (3.8%-2.7%) declined, but that of ARF increased by ≈3-fold (4.8%-14%) over the period 2007-2019 (all p < 0.001). AMI (1.9%-3.1%), DVT (1.0%-1.4%), and PE (0.3%-0.8%) prevalence also increased (p < 0.001), but that of sepsis and GIB remained unchanged over time. After multivariable adjustment, risk of all complications increased with increasing NIH Stroke Scale (pneumonia: prevalence rate ratio [PRR] 1.03, 95% CI 1.03-1.04, for each unit increase), but IV thrombolysis was associated with a reduced risk of all complications (pneumonia: PRR 0.80, 85% CI 0.73-0.88; AMI: PRR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.92; and DVT PRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.98). Mechanical thrombectomy was associated with a reduced risk of UTI, sepsis, and ARF, but DVT and PE were more prevalent in MT hospitalizations compared with those without. All complications except UTI were associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality (sepsis: PRR 1.97, 95% CI 1.78-2.19). DISCUSSION: Infectious complications declined, but noninfectious complications increased after AIS admissions in the United States in the last decade. Utilization of IV thrombolysis is associated with a reduced risk of all complications.

Trends in the Incidence of Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhages in the United States, 2007-2017.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that age-specific, sex-specific, and race-specific and ethnicity-specific incidence of nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) increased in the United States over the last decade. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, validated International Classification of Diseases codes were used to identify all new cases of SAH (n = 39,475) in the State Inpatients Databases of New York and Florida (2007-2017). SAH counts were combined with Census data to calculate incidence. Joinpoint regression was used to compute the annual percentage change (APC) in incidence and to compare trends over time between demographic subgroups. RESULTS: Across the study period, the average annual age-standardized/sex-standardized incidence of SAH in cases per 100,000 population was 11.4, but incidence was significantly higher in women (13.1) compared with that in men (9.6), p < 0.001. Incidence also increased with age in both sexes (men aged 20-44 years: 3.6; men aged 65 years or older: 22.0). Age-standardized and sex-standardized incidence was greater in Black patients (15.4) compared with that in non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients (9.9) and other races and ethnicities, p < 0.001. On joinpoint regression, incidence increased over time (APC 0.7%, p < 0.001), but most of this increase occurred in men aged 45-64 years (APC 1.1%, p = 0.006), men aged 65 years or older (APC 2.3%, p < 0.001), and women aged 65 years or older (APC 0.7%, p = 0.009). Incidence in women aged 20-44 years declined (APC -0.7%, p = 0.017), while those in other age/sex groups remained unchanged over time. Incidence increased in Black patients (APC 1.8%, p = 0.014), whereas that in Asian, Hispanic, and NHW patients did not change significantly over time. DISCUSSION: Nontraumatic SAH incidence in the United States increased over the last decade predominantly in middle-aged men and elderly men and women. Incidence is disproportionately higher and increasing in Black patients, whereas that in other races and ethnicities did not change significantly over time.

Age-specific trends in intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy utilization in acute ischemic stroke in children under age 18.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate current trends in the utilization of intravenous thrombolysis (IV-tPA) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in various age groups of children in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a serial cross-sectional study using primary AIS admissions in children ⩽ 17 years (weighted n = 2807) contained in the 2009-2019 KIDS Inpatient Database. Age-specific utilization frequency of IV-tPA and MT were calculated. Multivariable-adjusted models were used to evaluate demographic predictors of treatment. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2019, there were 2807 AIS admissions in children in the KID of which 55.9% were in boys and 29.9% were 15-17 years old.128 (4.6%) received IV-tPA. IV-tPA utilization differed by age (5-9 years: 3.1%, 15-17 years 8.1% p value < 0.001). Overall MT usage was 2.3% and this also varied by age (1-4 years: 0.9% and 15-17years 4.0%, p value = 0.006). IV-tPA utilization almost tripled across the study period (2.5% 2009 to 6.5% in 2019, p value = 0.001) while MT use more than doubled over time (1.2% in 2009 and 3.0% in 2019, p value = 0.048). Increased IV-tPA utilization was seen primarily in children 10-14 years (0.8% in 2009 to 7.2% 2019, p value = 0.005) and 15-17 years (5.4% in 2009 to 10.4% in 2019, p value = 0.045). Utilization in younger age groups remained unchanged over time. MT usage was very variable across various age groups over time. IV-tPA and MT utilization increased over time in nonchildren's hospitals (both p values < 0.05) but usage in designated children's hospitals did not change significantly over time. In multivariable models, there was no significant difference in odds of IV-tPA and MT use by sex, race or insurance status. CONCLUSION: IV-tPA and MT utilization in pediatric AIS increased in the United States over the past decade mainly in older children 10-17 years. Utilization increased mainly in patients hospitalized in nonchildren's hospitals. Usage in children's hospitals did not change significantly over time.

Contemporary Incidence and Burden of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in Children of the United States.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in children of the United States is unknown, and it is uncertain how the burden of CVT hospitalizations in children changed over the last decade. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the State Inpatient Database and Kid's inpatient database. All new CVT cases in children (0-19 years) in the New York 2006 to 2018 State Inpatient Database (n=705), and all cases of CVT in the entire US contained in the 2006 to 2019 Kid's inpatient database (weighted n=6115) were identified using validated International Classification of Diseases (ICDs) codes. Incident counts were combined with census data to compute incidence. Between-group differences in incidence were tested using 2-proportions Z-test, and Joinpoint regression was used to trend incidence over time. RESULTS: Across the study period, 48.2% of all incident CVT cases and 44.6% of all CVT admissions nationally were in girls. Of all incident cases, 27.2% were infants and 65.8% of these infants were neonates. Average incidence across the study period was (1.1/100 000/year, SE:0.04) but incidence in infants (6.4/100 000/year) was at least 5 times the incidence in other age groups (1-4 years: 0.7/100 000/year, 15-19 years: 1.2/100 000/year). Incidence and national burden of CVT admissions was higher in girls in adolescents 15 to 19 years, but overall burden was higher in boys in other age groups. Age- and sex-standardized CVT incidence increased by 3.8% annually (95% CI, 0.2%-7.6%), while the overall burden of admissions increased by 4.9% annually (95% CI, 3.6%-6.2%). CONCLUSIONS: CVT incidence in New York and national burden of CVT increased significantly over the last decade.

Trends in age and sex-specific prevalence of cancer and cancer subtypes in acute ischemic stroke from 2007-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To describe age and sex-specific prevalence of cancer in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) hospitalizations in the United States over the last decade. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective serial cross-sectional study using all primary AIS discharges (weighted n=5,748,358) with and without cancer in the 2007-2019 National Inpatient Sample. Admissions with primary central nervous system cancers were excluded. Joinpoint regression was used to compute the average annualized percentage change (AAPC) in cancer prevalence over time. RESULTS: Across the study period, 12.7% of AIS admissions had previous/active cancer, while 4.4% had active cancer. Of these, 18.8% were hematologic cancers, 47.2% were solid cancers without metastasis and 34.0% were metastatic cancers of any type. Age-adjusted active cancer prevalence differed by sex (males:4.8%; females:4.0%) and increased with age up to age 70-79 years (30-39 years 1.4%; 70-79 years:5.7%). Amongst cancer admissions, lung (18.7%) and prostate (17.8%) were the most common solid cancers in men, while lung (19.6%) and breast (13.7%) were the most prevalent in women. Active cancer prevalence increased over time (AAPC 1.7%, p<0.05) but the pace of increase was significantly faster in women (AAPC 2.8%) compared to men (AAPC 1.1%) (p-comparison =0.003). Fastest pace of increased prevalence was seen for genitourinary cancers in women and for gastrointestinal cancers in both sexes. Genitourinary cancers in men declined over time (AAPC -2.5%, p<0.05). Lung cancer prevalence increased in women (AAPC 1.8%, p<0.05) but remained constant in men. Prevalence of head/neck, skin/bone, gastrointestinal, hematological and metastatic cancers increased over time at similar pace in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of cancer in AIS admissions increased in the US over the last decade but the pace of this increase was faster in women compared to men. Gastrointestinal cancers in both sexes and genitourinary cancers in women are increasing at the fastest pace. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this increase is from co-occurrence or causation of AIS by cancer.

The weekend effect on mechanical thrombectomy: A nationwide analysis before and after the pivotal 2015 trials.

OBJECTIVES: As hospitals rapidly implement mechanical thrombectomy (MT) into stroke protocols following the pivotal trials in 2015, access to and outcomes from MT may be poorer for weekend-admitted patients. We sought to investigate whether a "weekend effect" influences MT outcomes nationally. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified stroke patients from 2010-2014 (pre-trials) to 2015-2017 (posttrials) using the Nationwide Readmissions Database. On multivariate analyses, we determined factors independently associated with receiving MT. Among MT patients, we then determined whether weekend admission was independently associated with inpatient mortality and unfavorable discharge. RESULTS: We identified 2,121,462 patients from 2010 to 2014, of whom 1.11% of weekday-admitted and 1.08% of weekend-admitted patients underwent MT. Of the 1,286,501 patients identified from 2015 to 2017, MT was performed in 2.82% and 2.91%, respectively. In the earlier cohort, weekend admission was independently associated with reduced odds of MT (odds ratio [OR] = 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89-0.95, P < 0.0001), although this was not statistically significant in the later cohort. During both periods, age >80 years was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of receiving MT, and status as a teaching or large bed-size hospital was associated with a greater likelihood. Weekend admission was independently associated with unfavorable discharge only in the 2015-2017 cohort (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: While nationwide access to MT has improved for weekend-admitted patients, the elderly and those at smaller, nonteaching hospitals remain underserved. Although we found no effect of weekend admission on inpatient mortality, since the major shift in practice, an emerging "weekend effect" may influence discharge outcomes. Data suggest that some hospitals are being challenged to provide this new standard of care efficiently and equitably.

Impact of ARUBA trial on trends and outcomes in symptomatic non-ruptured brain AVMs: A national sample analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The real-world evolution of management and outcomes of patients with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has not been well-delineated following the ARUBA trial findings of no general advantage of initial interventional (surgical/endovascular/radiotherapy) vs. initial conservative medical therapy. METHODS: We analyzed the National Inpatient Sample from 2009-2018, capturing 20% of all admissions in the U.S. Validated ICD-9 and -10 codes defined brain AVMs, comorbidities, and the use of interventional modalities. Analyses were performed by year and for the dichotomized periods of pre-ARUBA (2009-2013) vs. post-ARUBA (2014-2018). RESULTS: Among the national projected 88,037 AVM admissions, 72,812 (82.7%) were unruptured AVMs and 15,225 (17.3%) were ruptured AVMs. Among uAVMs, 51.4% admitted pre-ARUBA and 48.6% in post-ARUBA period. The post-ARUBA patients were mildly older (median age 53.3 vs. 51.8 (p = 0.001) and had more comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, renal impairment, and smoking. Before the first platform report of ARUBA (2009-2012), rates of use of interventional treatments during uAVM admissions trended up from 31.8% to 35.4%. Thereafter, they declined significantly to 26.4% in 2018 (p = 0.02). The decline was driven by a reduction in the frequency of endovascular treatment from 18.8% to 13.9% and inpatient stereotactic radiosurgery from 0.5% to 0.1%. No change occurred in the frequency of microsurgery or combined endovascular and surgical approaches. Adjusted multivariable model of uAVMs showed increased odds of discharge to a long-term inpatient facility or in-hospital death [OR 1.14 (1.02-1.28), p = 0.020] in post-ARUBA. A significantly increased proportion of ruptured AVMs from 17.0% to 23.3% was observed consistently in post-ARUBA. CONCLUSION: Nationwide practice in the management of unruptured AVMs changed substantially with the publication of the ARUBA trial in a durable and increasing manner. Fewer admissions with the interventional treatment of unruptured AVMs occurred, and a corresponding increase in admission for ruptured AVMs transpired, as expected with a strategy of watchful waiting and treatment only after an index bleeding event. Further studies are needed to determine whether these trends can be considered to be ARUBA trial effect or are merely coincidental.

Interventional compared with medical management of symptomatic carotid web: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Carotid web (CaW) is non-atheromatous, shelf-like intraluminal projection, generally affecting the posterolateral wall of the proximal internal carotid artery, and associated with embolic stroke, particularly in younger patients without traditional stroke risk factors. Treatment options for symptomatic CaWs include interventional therapy with carotid endarterectomy or carotid stenting versus medical therapy with antiplatelet or anticoagulants. As safety and efficacy of these approaches have been incompletely delineated in small-to-moderate case series, we performed a systematic review of outcomes with interventional and medical management. METHODS: Systematic literature search was conducted and data analyzed per PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) from January 2000 to October 2021 using the search strategy: "Carotid web" OR "Carotid shelf" OR "Web vessels" OR "Intraluminal web". Patient-level demographics, stroke risk factors, technical procedure details, medical and interventional management strategies were abstracted across 15 series. All data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among a total of symptomatic 282 CaW patients across 14 series, age was 49.5 (44-55.7) years, 61.7% were women, and 76.6% were black. Traditional stroke risk factors were less frequent than the other stroke causes, including hypertension in 28.6%, hyperlipidemia 14.6%, DM 7.0%, and smoking 19.8%. Thrombus adherent to CaW was detected on initial imaging in 16.2%. Among 289 symptomatic CaWs across 15 series, interventional management was pursued in 151 (52.2%), carotid artery stenting in 87, and carotid endarterectomy in 64; medical management was pursued in 138 (47.8%), including antiplatelet therapy in 80.4% and anticoagulants in 11.6%. Interventional and medical patients were similar in baseline characteristics. The reported time from index stroke to carotid revascularization was median 14 days (IQR 9.5-44). In the interventional group, no periprocedural mortality was noted, major periprocedural complications occurred in 1/151 (0.5%), and no recurrent ischemic events were observed over follow-up range of 3-60 months. In the medical group, over a follow-up of 2-55 months, the recurrence cerebral ischemia rate was 26.8%. CONCLUSION: Cumulative evidence from multiple series suggests that carotid revascularization is a safe and effective option for preventing recurrent ischemic events in patients with symptomatic carotid webs.

Venous Injury in Patients with Blunt Traumatic Brain Injury: Retrospective Analysis of a National Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous injury (CVI) includes injury to a dural venous sinus or major vein and leads to poorer outcomes for patients with blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI). We sought to identify the incidence, associated factors, and outcomes associated with CVI in a large national cohort. METHODS: Adult patients with blunt TBI were identified from the National Trauma Databank (2013-2017). Outcomes included inpatient mortality, discharge disposition, stroke, length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Multivariate regression models were used to identify the association between exposure variables and CVI, as well as each outcome. RESULTS: There were 619,659 patients with blunt TBI who met the inclusion criteria. CVI occurred in 1792 (0.3%) patients. Mixed intracranial injury type had the strongest association with CVI (odds ratio [OR] 2.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.38-3.50), followed by isolated TBI (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.54-2.02) and skull fracture (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.55-1.91). CVI was associated with increased odds of mortality (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.19-1.60), nonroutine discharge (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.12-1.40), and stroke (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.33-2.86). It was also associated with longer LOS (ß 2.02, 95% CI 1.55-2.50) and intensive care unit LOS (ß 0.14, 95% CI 0.13-0.16). Among locations of venous injury, superior sagittal sinus injury had significant associations with mortality (OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.62-5.30) and nonroutine discharge disposition (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.12-3.35), whereas the others did not. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a 0.3% incidence of CVI in all-comers with blunt TBI as well as several injury-related variables that may be used to guide investigation for dural venous sinus injury. CVI was associated with poorer outcomes, with superior sagittal sinus injury having the strongest association.

Outcomes associated with brain tissue oxygen monitoring in patients with severe traumatic brain injury undergoing intracranial pressure monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: Brain tissue oxygen monitoring combined with intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) may confer better outcomes than ICP monitoring alone. The authors sought to investigate this using a national database. METHODS: The National Trauma Data Bank from 2013 to 2017 was queried to identify patients with sTBI who had an external ventricular drain or intraparenchymal ICP monitor placed. Patients were stratified according to the placement of an intraparenchymal brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) monitor, and a 2:1 propensity score matching pair was used to compare outcomes in patients with and those without PbtO2 monitoring. Sensitivity analyses were performed using the entire cohort, and each model was adjusted for age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale score, Injury Severity Score, presence of hypotension, insurance, race, and hospital teaching status. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes included ICU length of stay (LOS) and overall LOS. RESULTS: A total of 3421 patients with sTBI who underwent ICP monitoring were identified. Of these, 155 (4.5%) patients had a PbtO2 monitor placed. Among the propensity score-matched patients, mortality occurred in 35.4% of patients without oxygen monitoring and 23.4% of patients with oxygen monitoring (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33-0.85; p = 0.007). The unfavorable discharge rates were 56.3% and 47.4%, respectively, in patients with and those without oxygen monitoring (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.87-2.30; p = 0.168). There was no difference in overall LOS, but patients with PbtO2 monitoring had a significantly longer ICU LOS and duration of mechanical ventilation. In the sensitivity analysis, PbtO2 monitoring was associated with decreased odds of mortality (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.37-0.84) but higher odds of unfavorable discharge (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.06-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: When combined with ICP monitoring, PbtO2 monitoring was associated with lower inpatient mortality for patients with sTBI. This supports the findings of the recent Brain Oxygen Optimization in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury phase 2 (BOOST 2) trial and highlights the importance of the ongoing BOOST3 trial.

Ten-Year Trend in Age, Sex, and Racial Disparity in tPA (Alteplase) and Thrombectomy Use Following Stroke in the United States.

Background and Purpose: IV tPA (intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) utilization increased in acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations in the United States over the last decade. It is uncertain whether this increase occurred equally across all age, sex, and racial groups. Methods: Adult acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations (weighted n=4 442 657) contained in the 2008 to 2017 National Inpatient Sample were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes. Proportions of hospitalizations with IV tPA and MT were computed according to age, sex, and race. Joinpoint and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate trends over time. Results: Across this period, 32.4% of all hospitalizations were in patients ≥80 years, and 64.7% of these were women. IV tPA and MT use differed by age with highest proportion of utilization of both treatments in patients aged 18 to 39 years (IV tPA, 12.3%) and lowest percentage in patients aged ≥90 years (IV tPA, 7.9%). Utilization of both procedures increased over time in all age groups, but the pace of increase was faster in patients ≥90 years compared with patients aged 18 to 39 years (MT: odds ratio, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.20­1.35] per unit increase in year, P interaction <0.001). Frequency of utilization of IV tPA and MT was lower in Black patients compared with White patients in most age groups. Usage of both procedures increased over time in all races and after 2015, IV tPA utilization was >10% in all demographic subgroups except in Black patients 60 to 79 years and Black patients ≥80 years. Analysis of race-by-time interaction revealed the Black-vs-White treatment gaps for IV tPA (odds ratio, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01­1.03]) and MT (odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI,1.05­1.12]) declined over time (both P interaction <0.01). Sex-related differences in IV tPA use were noted, but this gap also declined over time. Conclusions: Age- and sex-related treatment gaps in IV tPA and MT reduced over the last decade. Racial disparity in IV tPA and MT utilization persists with particularly lower frequency of usage of both acute stroke treatments in Black patients compared with White patients, but race-associated treatment gaps also declined over time.

Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Post Endovascular Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The development of the endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) technique has revolutionized acute stroke management for patients with large vessel occlusions (LVOs). The impact of successful recanalization using an EVT on autoregulatory profiles is unknown. A more complete understanding of cerebral autoregulation in the context of EVT may assist with post-procedure hemodynamic optimization to prevent complications. We examined cerebral autoregulation in 107 patients with an LVO in the anterior circulation (proximal middle cerebral artery (M1/2) and internal cerebral artery (ICA) terminus) who had been treated using an EVT. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation was assessed at multiple time points, ranging from less than 24 hours to 5 days following last seen well (LSW) time, using transcranial Doppler ultrasound recordings and transfer function analysis. Complete (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 3) recanalization was associated with a more favorable autoregulation profile compared with TICI 2b or poorer recanalization (p < 0.05), which is an effect that was present after accounting for differences in the infarct volumes. Less effective autoregulation in the first 24 h following the LSW time was associated with increased rates of parenchymal hematoma types 1 and 2 hemorrhagic transformations (PH1-PH2). These data suggest that patients with incomplete recanalization and poor autoregulation (especially within the first 24 h post-LSW time) may warrant closer blood pressure monitoring and control in the first few days post ictus.

Trends in incidence and epidemiologic characteristics of cerebral venous thrombosis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that race-, age-, and sex-specific incidence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has increased in the United States over the last decade. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, validated ICD codes were used to identify all new cases of CVT (n = 5,567) in the State Inpatients Databases (SIDs) of New York and Florida (2006-2016). A new CVT case was defined as first hospitalization for CVT in the SID without prior CVT hospitalization. CVT counts were combined with annual Census data to compute incidence. Joinpoint regression was used to evaluate trends in incidence over time. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2016, annual age- and sex-standardized incidence of CVT in cases per 1 million population ranged from 13.9 to 20.2, but incidence varied significantly by sex (women 20.3-26.9, men 6.8-16.8) and by age/sex (women 18-44 years of age 24.0-32.6, men 18-44 years of age 5.3-12.8). Incidence also differed by race (Blacks: 18.6-27.2; Whites: 14.3-18.5; Asians: 5.1-13.8). On joinpoint regression, incidence increased across 2006 to 2016, but most of this increase was driven by an increase in all age groups of men (combined annualized percentage change [APC] 9.2%, p < 0.001), women 45 to 64 years of age (APC 7.8%, p < 0.001), and women ≥65 years of age (APC 7.4%, p < 0.001). Incidence in women 18 to 44 years of age remained unchanged over time. CONCLUSION: CVT incidence is disproportionately higher in Blacks compared to other races. New CVT hospitalizations increased significantly over the last decade mainly in men and older women. Further studies are needed to determine whether this increase represents a true increase from changing risk factors or an artifactual increase from improved detection.