ObjectiveTo determine the risk factors related to the development of stroke in patients
undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsA historical cohort study. We included 4626 patients aged > 18 years who
underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement surgery alone or
heart valve surgery combined with coronary artery bypass grafting between January
1996 and December 2011. The relationship between risk predictors and stroke was
assessed by logistic regression model with a significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe incidence of stroke was 3% in the overall sample. After logistic regression,
the following risk predictors for stroke were found: age 50-65 years (OR=2.11 -
95% CI 1.05-4.23 - P=0.036) and age >66 years (OR=3.22 - 95%
CI 1.6-6.47 - P=0.001), urgent and emergency surgery (OR=2.03 -
95% CI 1.20-3.45 - P=0.008), aortic valve disease (OR=2.32 - 95%
CI 1.18-4.56 - P=0.014), history of atrial fibrillation (OR=1.88
- 95% CI 1.05-3.34 - P=0.032), peripheral artery disease (OR=1.81
- 95% CI 1.13-2.92 - P=0.014), history of cerebrovascular disease
(OR=3.42 - 95% CI 2.19-5.35 - P<0.001) and cardiopulmonary
bypass time > 110 minutes (OR=1.71 - 95% CI 1.16-2.53 -
P=0.007). Mortality was 31.9% in the stroke group and 8.5% in the
control group (OR=5.06 - 95% CI 3.5-7.33 - P<0.001).ConclusionThe study identified the following risk predictors for stroke after cardiac
surgery: age, urgent and emergency surgery, aortic valve disease, history of
atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery disease, history of cerebrovascular disease
and cardiopulmonary bypass time > 110 minutes.