PREDICTORS OF STROKE RECURRENCE IN HYPERTENSIVES IN AN EMERGENCY HOSPITAL

Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and therapeutic management as predictors of recurrent stroke among hypertensives from an emergency hospital. Design and method: From 595 adult subjects (age range 28–104 years) admitted to the neurology department of an emergency hospital in 2016 with stroke, we selected hypertensives (n = 456). They were divided in two subgroups depending on history of previous stroke and propensity matched to control for age and sex. Logistic regression was used to evaluate CV risk factors and treatment strategy as predictors of recurrent stroke. Results: The prevalence of hypertension among stroke patients was 76.63%. Propensity matching resulted in 208 hypertensives. CV risk factors and antihypertensive medication did not significantly differ among those with recurrent stroke versus first-time stroke event. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in those with recurrent stroke (chi2 = 4.837, RR 1.150 CI95% 1.014–1.305, p 0.028). For results see table.Conclusions: When adjusting for age and sex CV risk factors and antihypertensive medication did not predict stroke recurrence in hypertensives, which may suggest either the lack of intensive risk control, or an important residual risk despite therapy in those who already suffered stroke. Recurrence of stroke is more likely to lead to higher in-hospital mortality.