Anemia as a Predictor of Functional Disability in the Early Stage of Ischemic Stroke in a South Asian Population.

Background: Reduced hemoglobin concentration has an adverse impact on the ischemic penumbra in patients with ischemic stroke as it causes reduced oxygen delivery to neuronal tissue and predisposes to infarct expansion. There is a paucity of data on the impact of anemia on early functional outcomes.

Aims: To determine the association of anemia on early functional outcomes in a cohort of patients with ischemic stroke.