The Clinical Features of Ischemic Stroke Patients for Whom Smoking Was Considered the Sole Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical features of ischemic patients for whom cigarette smoking was the sole risk factor for ischemic stroke. Methods Among the 1,329 patients (male, n=833; female, n=496) with acute ischemic stroke who were admitted to our hospital between April 2005 and September 2016, 346 (26%) were smokers [male, n=308 (36.9%); female, 38 (7.6%)]. In 42 (3.1%; male, n=41; female, n=1) cases, cigarette smoking was considered to be the sole risk factor for ischemic stroke. Data regarding gender, age, the clinical type of ischemic stroke, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at the admission, the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores before the onset and at discharge, the progression of symptoms, and the recurrence of infarction were investigated. Results The mean age of the 42 patients was 63.2±12.4 years (range, 26-86 years). The clinical types of ischemic stroke included atherothrombosis (n=19), lacunar (n=17), other type (n=2) and undetermined type (n=4). The median NIHSS score at the time of admission for ischemic stroke was 2 (interquartile range: IQR 1-4.25). The median mRS scores before the onset and at the discharge were 0 (IQR 0-0) and 1 (IQR 0-2), respectively. One patient had symptoms of progression; no patients had recurrence of infarction. Conclusion Our findings suggest that cigarette smoking alone may induce ischemic stroke; moreover, patients for whom smoking was the sole risk factor for ischemic stroke showed milder symptoms in comparison to patients with other risk factors; however, ischemic stroke was induced from youth. Since cigarette smoking has detrimental effects on the central nervous system, we suggest that people be encouraged to quit smoking in order to maintain good health.

A Review of the Potential Benefits of Increasing Vitamin D Status in Mongolian Adults through Food Fortification and Vitamin D Supplementation

“…Hypertension is a growing concern in Ulaanbaatar, possibly due to the high ambient air concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) [37] with health effects similar to those of smoking—an important risk factor for ischemic stroke [38]. Hypertension is also an important risk factor for stroke, especially ischemic stroke in Mongolia [29] as well as for progressive atherosclerosis (with vascular calcification) in Mongolian women [39].…”

Efectos cardiovasculares del tabaquismo

“…Además, se observó que el primer evento ocurrió en edades más tempranas en los participantes fumadores en comparación con participantes no fumadores. 15 Otra evidencia importante es el Estudio del Corazón de Framingham, que evaluó el impacto del tabaquismo en la incidencia de ACV en una cohorte 4,255 hombres y mujeres de 36 a 68 años de edad. Durante 26 años de seguimiento se reportaron 459 accidentes cerebrovasculares; la incidencia anual fue 23.3% más grande en hombres que en mujeres.…”

Progress in the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke, Current Challenges and the Establishment of Clinical Decision-Making System

“…Vertebral-basal artery occlusion leads to interruption of blood supply to the occipital lobe, thalamus, corpus callosum, cerebellum and brainstem, especially in the brainstem (respiratory, circulatory center and descending nerve fiber bundles are concentrated here). If not treated in time, the mortality rate is as high as 80-90%, seriously affecting the quality of life and endangering life [4,5].…”