Background: The authors compare the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment (EVT) versus best medical management (BMM) in strokes attributable to acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO). Methods: The present analysis was based on the ongoing, prospective, multicenter ATTENTION (Endovascular Treatment for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion) trial registry in China. Our analytic sample comprised 2134 patients recruited at 48 sites between 2017 and 2021 and included 462 patients who received BMM and 1672 patients who received EVT. We performed an inversed probability of treatment weighting analysis. Qualifying patients had to present within 24 hours of estimated BAO. The primary clinical outcome was favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–3) at 90 days. We also performed a sensitivity analysis with the propensity score matching–based and the instrumental variable–based analysis. Results: In our primary analysis using the inversed probability of treatment weighting–based analysis, there was a significantly higher rate of favorable outcome at 90 days among EVT patients compared with BMM-treated patients (adjusted relative risk, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.19–1.65]; absolute risk difference, 11.8% [95% CI, 6.9–16.7]). The mortality was significantly lower (adjusted relative risk, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.69–0.88]; absolute risk difference, −10.3% [95% CI, −15.8 to −4.9]) in patients undergoing EVT. Results were generally consistent across the secondary end points. Similar associations were seen in the propensity score matching–based and instrumental variable–based analysis. Conclusions: In this real-world study, EVT was associated with significantly better functional outcomes and survival at 90 days. Well-designed randomized studies comparing EVT with BMM in the acute BAO are needed. Registration: URL: www.chictr.org.cn ; Unique identifier: ChiCTR2000041117.

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BackgroundLarge intracranial occlusive vascular disease is a major contributor to the incidence of stroke worldwide, especially when it involves the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The data on the prognosis of symptomatic atherosclerotic MCA occlusions (MCAO) with concomitant intracranial arterial disease (MCAO-AIS) are limited. MCAO-AIS may reflect the extent of the atherosclerotic intracranial disease, we hypotheses that coexisting intracranial arterial disease influenced the prognosis of MCAO.MethodsPatients having survived at least one month after the initial ischemic stroke who suffered from atherosclerotic occlusion of the MCA were enrolled. According to their concomitant atherosclerotic intracranial arterial disease, the patients were assigned to one of two groups: the MCAO or the MCAO-AIS. All of the patients’ cerebrovascular risk factors were recorded. Recurrent ischemic stroke and death were the end-point events during the follow-up.ResultsA total of 232 patients (mean age 57.68 ± 9.50 years; 69% male) were analyzed. The mean follow-up time was 17.65 months. The end-point events occurred in 35 (15.09%) patients, resulting in an annual rate of 10.26%. The presence of MCAO- AIS was an independent risk factor associated with the patient’s prognosis in the cohort (OR = 3.426, 95% CI 1.261 to 9.308; p = 0.016), as well as gender and diabetes mellitus. The MCAO-AIS were more likely to experience ipsilateral ischemic strokes, but the difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionConcomitant intracranial arterial disease may influence the prognosis of patients with atherosclerotic MCAO. The result warrants further research in larger sample population.

Sleep apnea is traditionally classified as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the upper airway collapses due to the relaxation of oropharyngeal musculature, and central sleep apnea occurs when the brainstem cannot stimulate breathing. Most sleep apnea in patients with heart failure (HF) results from coexisting OSA and central sleep apnea (CSA), or complex sleep apnea syndrome. OSA and CSA are common in HF and can be involved in its progression by exposure to the heart to intermittent hypoxia, increased preload and afterload, activating sympathetic, and decreased vascular endothelial function. A majority of treatments have been investigated in patients with CSA and HF; however, less or short-term randomized trials demonstrated whether treating OSA in patients with HF could improve morbidity and mortality. OSA could directly influence the patient's recovery. This review will focus on past and present studies on the various therapies for OSA in patients with HF and summarize CSA treatment options for reasons of reference and completeness. More specifically, the treatment covered include surgical and non-surgical treatments and reported the positive and negative consequences for these treatment options, highlighting possible implications for clinical practice and future research directions.

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