Expert opinion of the Heart Rhythm Association of the Polish Cardiac Society and the Polish Neurological Society on evidence-driven implementation of implantable loop recorders in Poland.

Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are considered increasingly helpful in diagnosing cardio-neurological conditions, especially if arrhythmic events are of high clinical importance but are unlikely to be captured by standard methods of electrocardiogram recording due to the low frequency of events and short duration of a single event. The compelling evidence from randomized trials and observational studies strongly supports ILR utilization in patients after cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack and in patients with recurrent transient loss of consciousness of unknown origin. These two groups of patients are expected to gain the most from initiating ILR-driven clinically effective management strategies.

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.

Background And Objectives: COVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Stroke Volumes and Cerebrovascular Events: A 1-Year Follow-up.

Background And Objectives: Declines in stroke admission, IV thrombolysis (IVT), and mechanical thrombectomy volumes were reported during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a paucity of data on the longer-term effect of the pandemic on stroke volumes over the course of a year and through the second wave of the pandemic. We sought to measure the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the volumes of stroke admissions, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), IVT, and mechanical thrombectomy over a 1-year period at the onset of the pandemic (March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021) compared with the immediately preceding year (March 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020).

Educational needs among physicians treating patients with atrial fibrillation: lessons for Poland from the European Society of Cardiology international educational needs assessment study.

Introduction: A study by the European Society of Cardiology assessing international educational needs has identified educational and organizational barriers preventing the implementation of optimal therapy of atrial fibrillation (AF) across European countries.

Objectives: Our aim was to investigate educational and organizational barriers in the implementation of guideline‑recommended AF care that are specific to physicians and health-care system in Poland.

Patients And Methods: An internet‑based survey was conducted to assess education, skills, and confidence in managing patients with AF among European cardiologists, neurologists, and family physicians (FPs) from 6 countries.

Statement by a Working Group conceived by the Polish National Consultants in Cardiology and Neurology addressing the use of implantable cardiac monitors in patients after ischaemic embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Introduction: Stroke remains one of the main causes of death and the most common cause of long-term disability in adults. Embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) amount to a significant proportion of all ischaemic strokes. Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in this group of patients would allow for a major therapeutic decision to switch from antiplatelets to oral anticoagulants and therefore significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.

Embolic strokes of undetermined source in a cohort of Polish stroke patients.

We aimed to provide a descriptive analysis of embolic stroke of undetermined etiology (ESUS) population based on a long-term prospective stroke registry. We retrospectively analyzed data collected in a detailed registry regarding consecutive patients admitted for first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) between January 2001 and December 2015. We used Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification supplemented with ESUS criteria proposed by the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group.

Infections Diagnosed after Admission to a Stroke Unit and Their Impact on Hospital Mortality in Poland from 1995 to 2015.

Background: Implementation of modern stroke unit care might have attenuated the negative effect of infections on stroke outcome. Our aim was to investigate changes in the occurrence of pneumonia and urinary infections diagnosed after admission to experienced Polish stroke center between 1995 and 2015, and their association with hospital mortality.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective registry-based analysis of consecutive patients with acute stroke from highly urbanized area (Warsaw, Poland) in years 1995-2015.

Noninfectious complications of acute stroke and their impact on hospital mortality in patients admitted to a stroke unit in Warsaw from 1995 to 2015.

Background: Medical complications often worsen the prognosis after stroke. Our aim was to investigate the association between particular noninfectious complications and hospital mortality of acute stroke patients admitted to an urban Polish stroke center, and changes in their occurrence from 1995 to 2015.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 5174 consecutive patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke or cerebral hemorrhage to a Polish urban stroke center between 1995 and 2015.

Carotid intima media thickness and blood biomarkers of atherosclerosis in patients after stroke or myocardial infarction.

Aim: To test if circulating levels of markers of inflammation, endothelial function, and chronic infections, as well as association between these markers and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), depend on the stage of atherosclerosis expressed as a history of a major vascular event.

Methods: The associations were analyzed separately in 75 healthy controls, 79 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke (IS), and 37 patients 3-6 months after the first-ever myocardial infarction (MI). Data were collected prospectively in 2005.

The activity of malignancy may determine stroke pattern in cancer patients.

Background: It has been suggested that stroke in patients with cancer may differ from the conventional pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of vascular risk factors, stroke etiology, and short-term outcome in patients with active and nonactive malignancy compared with patients without cancer.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of consecutive acute stroke patients admitted to our department between September 2006 and September 2011.