Elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and decreased concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) were shown to predict poor outcomes in patients with stroke. However, the prognostic value of CRP and T3 has not been studied simultaneously in relation to stroke functional and cognitive outcomes despite of close interaction between inflammatory markers and thyroid function. We evaluated the association of thyroid hormone and CRP concentrations with immediate outcomes after ischemic stroke. Eighty-eight ischemic stroke patients on admission to the stroke unit were evaluated for clinical stroke severity (Scandinavian stroke scale or SSS) and concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxin, free T3, and CRP. Functional outcome (modified Rankin scale) and cognitive outcome (Mini mental state examination) were evaluated at discharge. Greater ln CRP concentrations (r = -0.35, p = 0.001), but not thyroid hormone concentrations, correlated with score on the SSS. In univariate analyses lower free T3 concentrations and higher CRP concentrations were associated with poor functional and poor cognitive outcomes. After adjustment for clinical stroke severity, higher CRP concentrations (β = 0.18, p = 0.04) remained associated with worse functional outcome and lower free T3 concentrations with worse cognitive outcome (β = 0.23, p = 0.03). In sum, clinical stroke severity is associated with elevated CRP concentration. Higher CRP concentration is independently associated with worse functional outcomes and lower free T3 concentration with worse cognitive outcomes at discharge. T3 and CRP can be important biomarkers in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations can be important biomarkers in the acute stroke setting. In acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients, we investigated the association of NT-proBNP, hsCRP, and IL-6 serum concentrations with stroke severity and functional and cognitive outcomes at discharge. Methods: Seventy-eight patients (53 men; median age 72 years) admitted with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within 48 h of symptom onset were evaluated for clinical stroke severity (Scandinavian stroke scale; SSS), functional status before the stroke (modified Rankin scale; mRS), and cerebrovascular disease risk factors. Cognitive (Mini Mental State Examination) and functional (mRS) outcomes were evaluated at hospital discharge. Blood samples were drawn for the assessment of NT-proBNP, hsCRP, and IL-6 concentrations within 24 h of admission. Results: Greater NT-proBNP and hsCRP serum concentrations were associated with greater clinical stroke severity, adjusting for the patients' gender, age, stroke type, mRS score on admission, and presence of heart failure (β = -0.292, p = 0.012; β = -0.303, p = 0.009). In multivariate adjusted regression models with IL-6, hsCRP, and NT-proBNP considered together, IL-6 and hsCRP remained associated with worse functional (β = 0.210, p = 0.022) and cognitive (β = -0.269, p = 0.014) outcomes at discharge, respectively. In receiver operating characteristic analyses, the investigated blood biomarkers produced a minimal increase in predictive values for outcomes at discharge above the SSS score, age, and gender. Conclusions: In acute stroke patients, greater NT-proBNP and hsCRP serum concentrations are independently associated with greater clinical stroke severity. Elevated concentrations of IL-6 and hsCRP are associated with worse functional and cognitive outcomes at discharge, respectively.

BackgroundDuring the past decades, mortality from stroke decreased in many western European countries; however, changes concerning long‐term stroke mortality in eastern European countries are less evident.ObjectiveTo assess age‐ and gender‐specific trends in stroke mortality in Klaipeda (Lithuania) from 1994 to 2013.DesignDescriptive epidemiological study.Setting/subjectsPermanent population of Klaipeda.MethodsData on 2509 permanent residents of Klaipeda aged 35–79 years who died from stroke between 1994 and 2013 were gathered. Directly, age‐standardized (European population) stroke mortality rates were analyzed using joinpoint regression separately for specific age groups (35–64, 65–79, and 35–79 years) and by gender. Annual percentage change (APC) and 95% CIs were presented.ResultsStroke mortality in the 35‐ to 79‐year‐old age group peaked in 1994–1997, it then decreased by −9.9% (95% CI: −18.7, −0.2) yearly up until 2001 and leveled off by −0.2% (−5.1, 4.9) between 2001 and 2013. Among men aged 35–64 years, mortality decreased substantially by 12.8% (−21.5, −3.3) per year from 1994 to 2001 and turned positive by 6.3% (0.8, 12.1) between 2000 and 2013. Among women aged 35–64 years, mortality decreased significantly by 15.5% (−28.1, −0.7) from 1994 to 2000. There was evidence of recent plateauing of trends for 35‐ to 64‐year‐old women between 2000 and 2013. In the 65‐ to 79‐year‐old age group, mortality decreased from 1994 onward yearly by −5.5% (−7.9, −3.0) in women and by −3.3% (−5.6, −0.9) in men.ConclusionsJoinpoint regression revealed steadily decreasing trend in stroke mortality between 1994 and 2001. The decline in death rates flattened out in the recent decade. Mortality rates varied among age groups and were more pronounced in adults aged 35–64 years. It is essential to monitor and manage stroke risk factors, especially among middle‐aged population.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the trends in stroke mortality in the population of Klaipėda aged 35–79 years from 1994 to 2008. Material and Methods. Mortality data on all permanent residents of Klaipėda aged 35–79 years who died from stroke in 1994–2008 were gathered for the study. All death certificates of permanent residents of Klaipėda aged 35–79 years who died during 1994–2008 were examined in this study. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9 codes 430–436, and ICD-10 codes I60–I64) was used. Sex-specific mortality rates were standardized according to the Segi’s world population; all the mortality rates were calculated per 100 000 population per year. Trends in stroke mortality were estimated using log-linear regression models. Sex-specific mortality rates and trends were calculated for 3 age groups (35–79, 35–64, and 65–79 years). Results. During the entire study period (1994–2008), a marked decline in stroke mortality with a clear slowdown after 2002 was observed. The average annual percent changes in mortality rates for men and women aged 35–79 years were –4.6% (P=0.041) and –6.5% (P=0.002), respectively. From 1994 to 2002, the stroke mortality rate decreased consistently among both Klaipėda men and women aged 35–64 years (20.4% per year, P=0.002, and 14.7% per year, P=0.006, respectively) and in the elderly population aged 65–79 years (13.8% per year, P=0.005; and 12% per year, P=0.019). During 2003–2008, stroke mortality increased by 16.3% per year in middle-aged men (35–64 years), whereas among women (aged 35–64 and 65–79 years) and elderly men (aged 65–79 years), the age-adjusted mortality rate remained relatively unchanged. Conclusions. Among both men and women, the mortality rates from stroke sharply declined between 1994 and 2008 with a clear slowdown in the decline after 2002. Stroke mortality increased significantly among middle-aged men from 2003, while it remained without significant changes among women of the same age and both elderly men and women.

Background Results of studies on associations between triiodothyronine serum levels and mortality after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study was to evaluate links between serum levels of thyroid axis associated hormones and all-cause mortality during 1 year after AIS. Methods and results This study involved 255 patients with AIS. Patients were divided into two groups: those who survived 1 year after their index stroke and those who not, and by quartiles of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and ΔFT3 (difference between basal FT3 and repeated FT3 on discharge) hormone serum concentrations. To assess serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), FT3 and free tetraiodothyronine (FT4), venous blood was taken from all included patients on admission to hospital. On discharge, blood tests were repeated for 178 (69.8%) patients. Study endpoints were overall mortality within 30, 90 and 365 days after AIS. Results Compared with the survivals, those who died had significantly lower mean FT3, FT3/FT4 ratio in all periods and lower median TSH within 30 days. Higher FT3 serum levels versus lower, even after adjustment for included important variables, remained significant for lower odds of death within 365 days after AIS (OR=0.57; 95% CI: 0.33–0.97, p=0.04), but added insignificant additional predictive value to the NIHSS score or age. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated that the first FT3 quartile was significantly associated with increased mortality compared with all other quartiles within 365 days after AIS. With ΔFT3 quartiles no such association was found. Conclusions. Higher FT3 levels on admission versus lower are significantly associated with lower mortality within 365 days after AIS. FT3 serum levels changes over time didn’t show any association with mortality within first year.

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rehabilitation. In order to specify patients' age, residency and diagnosis of the disease, complications, the duration of rehabilitation and a complex rehabilitation programs, the prospective analysis was performed on rehabilitated patients' medical history while they were treated in-patient base. Results and conclusions: At the start of rehabilitation, the mean Barthel score for the patients' dysfunction of a daily living, was 52,9, after rehabilitation -74,5. During the rehabilitation period the mean Barthel score raised up to 21,6 (p<0,001). After completing the complex rehabilitation programs the cognitive functions' change was 4,8 (p<0,001) by the end of inpatient rehabilitation. A complex rehabilitation helped to reduce anxiety and depression levels (15% and 10%, respectively), but difference is not statistically significant. During the inpatient rehabilitation encountered complications reduced the efficacy of the rehabilitation.4

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