Marek Sykora1, Pavel Siarnik2, Jennifer Diedler2. 1. 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. 2. 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.).
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 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.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 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: Willeke F Westendorp; Jan-Dirk Vermeij; Matthijs C Brouwer; Y B W E M Roos; Paul J Nederkoorn; Diederik van de Beek Journal: Cerebrovasc Dis Date: 2016-10-05 Impact factor: 2.762