Left ventricular hypertrophy assessed by electrocardiogram is associated with more severe stroke and with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Aims: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), assessed by electrocardiogram (ECG), is associated with increased risk for stroke. However, few studies that evaluated whether ECG-detected LVH predicts ischemic stroke severity and outcome. We aimed to evaluate these associations.

Effect of antihypertensive treatment on the long-term outcome of patients discharged after acute ischemic stroke.

We aimed to evaluate the effects of the five main classes of antihypertensive agents on the long-term outcome of 313 consecutive patients discharged after acute ischemic stroke (36.4% males, age 78.5 ± 6.

Stress hyperglycemia and acute ischemic stroke in-hospital outcome.

Background And Aims: Stress hyperglycemia is frequent in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, it is unclear whether stress hyperglycemia only reflects stroke severity or if it is directly associated with adverse outcome. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of stress hyperglycemia in acute ischemic stroke.

Prognostic significance of major lipids in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Although dyslipidemia increases the risk for ischemic stroke, previous studies reported conflicting data regarding the association between lipid levels and stroke severity and outcome. To evaluate the predictive value of major lipids in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We prospectively studied 790 consecutive patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke (41.

Treatment with Clopidogrel Prior to Acute Non-Cardioembolic Ischemic Stroke Attenuates Stroke Severity.

Background: Clopidogrel reduces the risk of non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke, but it is unclear whether it affects the severity and outcome of stroke. We aimed at evaluating the effect of prior treatment with clopidogrel on acute non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke severity and in-hospital outcome.

Methods: We prospectively studied 608 consecutive patients (39.

No Association Observed Between Blood Pressure Variability During the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke and In-Hospital Outcomes.

Background: Recent data suggest that blood pressure (BP) variability confers increased cardiovascular risk independently of BP. We aimed to evaluate the association between BP variability during the acute phase of ischemic stroke and the in-hospital outcome.

Methods: We prospectively studied 608 consecutive patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke (39.

Acenocoumarol vs. low-dose dabigatran in real-world patients discharged after ischemic stroke.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of dabigatran 110 mg twice daily and acenocoumarol in patients with atrial fibrillation discharged after ischemic stroke. We prospectively studied 436 consecutive patients who were discharged after acute ischemic stroke (39.2% males, age 78.

Comparative effects of more versus less aggressive treatment with statins on the long-term outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Aims: There are no studies that compared the effects of different intensities of statin treatment on the long-term outcome of patients with recent ischemic stroke. We aimed to evaluate these effects.

Methods: We prospectively studied 436 consecutive patients who were discharged after acute ischemic stroke (39.

Prior treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors is associated with better functional outcome and lower in-hospital mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted with acute ischaemic stroke.

It is unclear whether prior antidiabetic treatment affects stroke severity and outcome. To evaluate this association, we prospectively studied all patients who were admitted in our Department with acute ischaemic stroke (n = 378, mean age = 78.8 ± 6.

Adequacy of preadmission oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and ischemic stroke severity and outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation.

It is unclear whether vitamin K antagonists affect stroke severity and outcome in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to evaluate this association. We prospectively studied 539 consecutive patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke (41.

Effects of different classes of antihypertensive agents on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke.

It is unclear whether antihypertensive treatment before stroke affects acute ischemic stroke severity and outcome. To evaluate this association, the authors studied 482 consecutive patients (age 78.8±6.

Type 2 diabetes is associated with a worse functional outcome of ischemic stroke.

Aim: To assess whether ischemic stroke severity and outcome is more adverse in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke between September 2010 and June 2013 were studied prospectively (n = 482; 40.2% males, age 78.

Elevated diastolic but not systolic blood pressure increases mortality risk in hypertensive but not normotensive patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: The relationship between blood pressure (BP) at admission for acute ischemic stroke and outcome is controversial. We aimed to assess whether only systolic BP (SBP), only diastolic BP (DBP), both or neither predict outcome and whether these associations differ between patients with and without a history of hypertension.

Methods: We prospectively studied all patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke (n = 415; 39.

Increased augmentation index is paradoxically associated with lower in-hospital mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and stroke severity and in-hospital outcome in patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: We prospectively studied 415 consecutive patients who were admitted with acute ischemic stroke (39.5% males, age 78.

Predictive value of the ankle brachial index in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is frequently present in patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, there are limited data regarding the association between ankle brachial index (ABI) ≤ 0.90 (which is diagnostic of PAD) or > 1.

Association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and acute ischemic stroke severity and outcome.

Aim: To evaluate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with acute ischemic stroke severity and in-hospital outcome.

Methods: We prospectively studied all patients who were admitted in our Department with acute ischemic stroke between September 2010 and August 2012 (n = 415; 39.5% males, mean age 78.

Bariatric surgery as a treatment option in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a leading cause of blindness, non-traumatic amputation and end-stage renal disease as well as a major cardiovascular risk factor. Tight glycemic control reduces the incidence of microvascular complications of T2DM whereas its effects on macrovascular complication are more controversial. However, glycemic targets are achieved by a minority of diabetic patients despite the availability of several antidiabetic agents.

Impaired fasting glucose in hypertensive patients: prevalence and cross-sectional analysis of associations with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is frequently present in hypertensive patients and might be induced or aggravated by antihypertensive treatment. However, it is unclear whether IFG is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in this population.

Patients And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 1,810 hypertensive patients and recorded the presence of IFG, coronary heart disease (CHD), and ischemic stroke.