Incidence, clinical features, and outcomes of posterior circulation ischemic stroke: insights from a large multiethnic stroke database.

Background: Posterior cerebral circulation ischemic stroke (PCS) comprises up to 25% of all strokes. It is characterized by variable presentation, leading to misdiagnosis and morbidity and mortality. We aim to describe PCS in large multiethnic cohorts. Methods: A retrospective review of a large national stroke database from its inception on the 1st of January 2014 till 31 December 2020. Incidence per 100,000 adult population/year, demographics, clinical features, stroke location, and outcomes were retrieved. We divided the cohort into patients from MENA (Middle East and North Africa) and others. Results: In total, 1,571 patients were identified. The incidence of PCS was observed to be rising and ranged from 6.3 to 13.2/100,000 adult population over the study period. Men were 82.4% of the total. The mean age was 54.9 ± 12.7 years (median 54 years, IQR 46, 63). MENA patients comprised 616 (39.2%) while others were 954 (60.7%); of these, the majority (80.5%) were from South Asia. Vascular risk factors were prevalent with 1,230 (78.3%) having hypertension, 970 (61.7%) with diabetes, and 872 (55.5%) having dyslipidemia. Weakness (944, 58.8%), dizziness (801, 50.5%), and slurred speech (584, 36.2%) were the most commonly presenting symptoms. The mean National Institute of Health Stroke Score (NIHSS) score was 3.8 ± 4.6 (median 3, IQR 1, 5). The overall most frequent stroke location was the distal location (568, 36.2%). The non-MENA cohort was younger, less vascularly burdened, and had more frequent proximal stroke location (p < 0.05). Dependency or death at discharge was seen in 39.5% and was associated with increasing age, and proximal and multilocation involvement; while at 90 days it was 27.4% and was associated with age, male sex, and having a MENA nationality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In a multiethnic cohort of posterior circulation stroke patients from the MENA region and South Asia, we noted a rising incidence over time, high prevalence of vascular risk factors, and poor outcomes in older men from the MENA region. We also uncovered considerable disparities between the MENA and non-MENA groups in stroke location and outcome. These disparities are crucial factors to consider when tailoring individualized patient care plans. Further research is needed to thoroughly investigate the underlying reasons for these variations.

Partitioning risk factors for embolic stroke of undetermined source using exploratory factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) accounts for up to 25% of strokes. Understanding risk factors associated with ESUS is important in reducing stroke burden worldwide. However, ESUS patients are younger and present with fewer traditional risk factors. Significant global variation in ESUS populations also exists making the clinical picture of this type of stroke unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: ESUS patients were pair matched for age, sex, and ethnicity with a group of all other strokes (both n = 331). Exploratory factor analysis was applied in both groups to 14 risk and clinical factors to identify latent factors. In ESUS patients, two latent factors emerged consisting primarily of heart-related variables such as left ventricular wall motion abnormalities, reduced ejection fraction, and increased left atrial volume index, as well as aortic arch atherosclerosis. This is in comparison to the all other strokes group, which was dominated by traditional stroke risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the existence of a unique pattern of risk factors specific to ESUS. We show that LVWMA and corresponding changes in left heart function are a potential source of emboli in these patients. In addition, the clustering of aortic arch atherosclerosis with left heart factors suggests a causal link. Through the application of exploratory factor analysis, this work contributes to a further understanding of stroke mechanisms in ESUS.

Rapid mental health screening in conflict zones: a translation and cross-cultural adaptation into Arabic of the shortened Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25).

BACKGROUND: During conflict, children and adolescents are at increased risk of mental health problems and in particular, anxiety and depression. However, mental health screening in conflict settings is problematic and carries risk making the need for fast, easy-to-administer, screening instruments paramount. The shortened version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-25) is one method of rapidly assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms in youths. This self-report questionnaire demonstrates good internal consistency and diagnostic capacity in clinical and non-clinical populations. Nevertheless, few studies have tested the psychometric properties of translated versions of the RCADS-25 limiting its applicability worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To expand the reach and utility of the RCADS-25, the present study sought to develop an Arabic version of the instrument (RCADS25-Arabic) and to explore its reliability and underlying factor structure. In light of changes to DSM classification, the effects of removing indicator variables for obsessive-compulsive disorder on the psychometrics of the RCADS25-Arabic were also explored. METHOD: The scale was back translated into Modern Standard Arabic and administered to 250 Arabic speaking schoolchildren between 8 and 15 years of age in Syria. Mean and standard deviation were used to characterise the sample and summarize scores. The reliability and factor structure of the RCADS25-Arabic was explored using confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Females were 127 and mean age was 12.11 ± SD 2.35. Males scored lower on anxiety (M 15.05 SD ± 8.0, t(248) = - 3.15, p = .003, d = 0.39) and internalizing factors (M 26.1 SD ± 13.1, t(248) = - 2.36, p = .0160, d = 0.31) with no statistical gender difference recorded for depression (t(248) = - 1.27, p = .202). Fit statistics were good for two- and one-factor solutions (χ2/df = 1.65, RMSEA 0.051, CFI .91, TLI .90 and χ2/df = 1.64 and RMSEA 0.051, CFI .91 and TLI .89 respectively). DIFFTEST showed no significant difference between models (χ2diff (1) = 0.03, p < 0.86) indicating a one-factor (internalizing) solution was preferable. No improvement in scale integrity was found after deleting obsessive-compulsive disorder items. CONCLUSION: The RCADS25-Arabic is useful for rapid screening of depression and anxiety but is better used to identify a one-factor internalizing construct. Obsessive-compulsive disorder items should be retained in the RCADS-25.

Stroke in the adult Qatari population (Q-stroke) a hospital-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Studies assessing the burden of stroke in Qataris are limited. We aim to study stroke in the Qatari population. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of all Qatari adults presenting with stroke to Hamad Medical Corporation over a 5-year period. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and all other clinical characteristics of the patients. The primary outcome was the incidence of stroke in the Qatari patients. Comparison was made between the sexes. RESULTS: 862 patients were included, with 58.9% being male. The average incidence of stroke over the 5-year period was 92.04 per 100,000 adult Qatari population. The mean age of the cohort was 64.3±14.4 years, (range 19-105 years). The mean age of first ever cerebrovascular event was 63.2±14.5 years. The diagnosis was ischemic stroke in (73.7%), transient ischemic attack in (13.8%), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in (11.6%), subarachnoid hemorrhage in (0.7%) and (0.2%) cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Small vessel disease was the most common cause of ischemic stroke accounting for (46.5%), followed by large artery atherosclerosis (24.5%). Hypertension (82.7%) and diabetes (71.6%) were particularly prevalent in this cohort. Females were older (65.8±14.1 vs 63.4±14.5 years), had more hypertension and diabetes and more disability or death at 90 days (p<0.05) compared to Qatari males. CONCLUSION: Stroke occurs at a significantly lower age in Qataris compared to the western population. This study has uncovered sex differences that need to be studied further.

Prevalence, Characteristics and Risk Factors for Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source in West and South Asia and North African Population Residing in Qatar.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is an important contributor to stroke worldwide. Little is known about ESUS in developing parts of the world such as South Asia, West Asia and North Africa despite the high stroke burden in these areas. The purpose of the study was to characterize the prevalence, demographic, risk factor and clinical aspects of ESUS in patients from South Asia, West Asia and North Africa residing in Qatar. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected on 3103 stoke patients. Risk factors and clinical features of the ESUS group were compared to all other strokes using Chi-square or student's t-tests. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ESUS. ESUS patients were compared based on ethnicity using Chi-square or one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: 634 patients (30·9%, 95% CI (28·9%-32·9%) met the ESUS criteria. Mean age was 56·3 years ± 13·7 and South Asian ESUS patients were younger than West Asians or North Africans (67·1 ± 13·5 versus 52·1 ± 10·8 versus 53·5 ± 14·2, P = .001). Smoking, diastolic function, prior antiplatelets and wall motion abnormalities were more common in ESUS. Logistic regression showed that South Asian ethnicity (OR 1·50, CI 1·14-1·97, P = ·003), diastolic dysfunction (OR 1·47, CI 1·23-1·75, P = ·005), global (OR 1·79, CI 1·41-2·26, P = ·001) and focal (OR 5·48, CI 3·79-7·92, P = ·001) wall motion abnormalities, predicted ESUS. CONCLUSIONS: ESUS is a major cause of stroke in patients from West Asia, South Asia and North Africa residing in Qatar. The clinical profile and risk factors for ESUS vary based on ethnicity. In South Asians, ESUS occurs at a younger age and is most likely cardiogenic in origin.