Risk factor burden predicts long‐term mortality in young patients with arterial cerebral infarction. (23rd May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naess, H.; Waje‐Andreassen, U.; Nyland, H.
• Is Part Of: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. Volume 127:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2012-05-23
• Subjects: Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2012.01681.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6314

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ane1681-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ane1681-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>The aim was to investigate risk factors separately and in sum in relation to long‐term mortality after arterial cerebral infarction in young adults.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane1681-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and methods</title> <p>Mortality in relation to the number of risk factors (smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and intermittent claudication known at the time of the index stroke) and etiology was studied in a population of young adults with first‐ever arterial ischemic stroke at an age < 50 years. Cox regression analyses were performed.</p> </sec> <sec id="ane1681-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>After a mean follow‐up time of 18 years (the longest follow‐up study after cerebral infarction in young adults), 12.5% with no risk factor had died while the corresponding frequencies in patients with 1–3 or more risk factors were 18.5%, 25.4%, and 53.1%, respectively (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The number of risk factors was associated with mortality on Cox regression analysis [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.6, <italic>P</italic> = 0.001]. A separate Cox regression analysis showed mortality to be associated with diabetes mellitus (HR = 3.0, <italic>P</italic> = 0.001), myocardial infarction (HR = 3.1, <italic>P</italic> = 0.001), and alcoholism (HR = 6.3, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001).</p> </sec> <sec id="ane1681-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Increasing number of traditional risk factors is associated with long‐term mortality in young adults with cerebral infarction indicating aggressive long‐term secondary preventive treatment in selected patients.</p> </sec> </abstract>