Stroke

Our February 2024 cardiology month in review, recaps FDA news, top data from International Stroke Conference and major journals, and perspectives form a bevy of key opinion leaders in the field on hot topics and news from across the spectrum of cardiovascular medicine.

Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy show no significant difference in recurrent stroke risk among patients with cryptogenic stroke and evidence of atrial cardiopathy.

Blood thinners added to clot-busting medication did not improve 90-day stroke outcomes, leading to early discontinuation of the MOST trial.

Although a new study found antidepressants from SSRI or SNRI did not increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke or other serious bleeding in ischemic stroke survivors, the risk increased when taking antidepressants of other classes and anti-platelet medications.

Study presented at ISC 2024 suggests Black women with hypertension before age 35 face a 3-fold increase in risk of stroke while hypertension before 45 linked to doubling in stroke risk.

Moderate-to-severe anemia decreased the likelihood of a favorable outcome after mechanical thrombectomy compared with no anemia.

Results of ARIES-HM3 demonstrate use of aspirin was associated with an increased rate of major bleeding following HeartMate 3 implantation.

Anthos Therapeutics halts their phase 2 AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial due to significant reduction in bleeding events with abelacimab, making it a potential breakthrough in anticoagulation therapy for atrial fibrillation.

A secondary analysis of ASPREE is bringing the role of aspirin in primary prevention settings further into question, suggesting daily use of low-dose aspirin was associated with a 38% increase in intracranial bleeding in older adults.

Physical activity concentrated within a 1- to 2-day span was associated with a similarly lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes to more evenly distributed activity.

An analysis of patient data from the greater Houston area suggests women were less likely to be routed to a comprehensive stroke center than their male counterparts, despite a greater symptom severity and comparable distance to the centers.

Presented at the European Stroke Conference, results of the ELAN trial offer evidence in support of early initiation, as opposed to later initiation, strategies for anticoagulation following acute ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

A single-center study from India sheds light on the safety and efficacy of biosimilar tenecteplase relative to the reference agent for patients with acute ischemic stroke.

New data from a predefined secondary analysis of the STROKE-AF trial provides insight into the 3-year incidence of atrial fibrillation among patients with a history of ischemic stroke caused by atherosclerosis.

An analysis of data from the China Kadoorie Biobank study suggests cumulative exposure to estrogen was associated with stroke risk in postmenopausal women.

A study presented at the International Stroke Conference 2023 suggests the plasma metabolite gluconic acid could serve as a race-specific biomarker for identifying increased risk of hypertension and stroke in Black adults.

An analysis of registry data recorded in Denmark over a 4-decade period offers an overview of the risk of acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke incurred as a result of preeclampsia during pregnancy and how this risk changes over time.

Stroke symptoms that disappear in under an hour need emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke. A new scientific statement from the AHA provides guidance and a standardized approach to evaluating people with suspected TIA, particularly in rural areas.

An analysis of patient data from the REGARDS cohort suggests the increase in relative risk observed with traditional risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, on risk of stroke decreases as patients age, but investigators point out this does not diminish the importance of addressing these risk factors.

Data from an analysis of patients in Denmark provides an overview of the effects of statin therapy on risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, with insights into how this benefit may vary based on the location of the intracerebral hemorrhage.

An analysis of data from a quality improvement initiative demonstrates the majority of patients continue their anticoagulant regimen beyond the guideline-directed 3 months following provoked VTE.

A new study encompassing data from more than 48,000,000 patients provides insight into the risk of major arterial and cerebrovascular diseases up to 49 weeks following initial COVID-19 diagnosis.

An analysis of data from the ARIC study provides insight into the impact of genetic risk scores on lifetime risk of stroke and how optimal cardiovascular health might influence this risk.

An analysis of data from more than 30k patients with DVT from the RIETE registry is providing clinicians with new insight into the difference in presentation and outcomes among patients with isolated distal DVT and proximal DVT.

An analysis of data from a single center in Switzerland from a 15-year period details the prevalence of undiagnosed major risk factors among patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke, suggesting 67.7% present with at least 1 undiagnosed risk factor.

Dr. Gregory Weiss provides perspective on a recent study detailing the risks of thrombosis observed with different COVID-19 vaccines among patients from a group of countries in Europe.

A post hoc analysis of the AUGUSTUS trial provides an overview of the effects of various antithrombotic regimens after ACS or PCI in patients with AFib and a history of stroke, TIA, or thromboembolism.

An analysis of national data from Sweden suggests men with prostate cancer were at a 48% greater risk of deep vein thrombosis and a 47% greater risk of pulmonary embolism compared to their counterparts without prostate cancer.

Published on May 17, the 2022 AHA/ASA guidelines for the management of intracerebral hemorrhage were created with the intent of replacing 2015 guidance with updated evidence-based recommendations.

A study from HRS 2022 suggests Black patients with AFib were 25% less likely to be on oral anticoagulants at hospital discharge compared to their White counterparts those discharged 18% less likely to receive DOACs than their White counterparts.