Association of Elevated Body Mass Index with Functional Outcome and Mortality following Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Obesity Paradox Revisited.

Background: Previous literature has identified a survival advantage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with elevated body mass indices (BMIs), a phenomenon termed the "obesity paradox."

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent association between obesity and clinical outcomes following AIS.

Methods: Weighted discharge data from the National Inpatient Sample were queried to identify AIS patients from 2015 to 2018.