Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Association with Acute Ischemic Stroke Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Thrombolysis

Abstract

(1) Background: Little is known about how left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) affects functional and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients undergoing thrombolysis; (2) Methods: A retrospective observational study conducted between 2006 and 2018 included 937 consecutive AIS patients undergoing thrombolysis. LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50%. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed for demographic characteristics. Ordinal shift regression was used for functional modified Rankin Scale (mRS) outcome at 3 months. Survival analysis of mortality, heart failure (HF) admission, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) was evaluated with a Cox-proportional hazards model; (3) Results: LVSD patients in comparison with LVEF ≥ 50% patients accounted for 190 and 747 patients, respectively. LVSD patients had more comorbidities including diabetes mellitus (100 (52.6%) vs. 280 (37.5%), p < 0.001), atrial fibrillation (69 (36.3%) vs. 212 (28.4%), p = 0.033), ischemic heart disease (130 (68.4%) vs. 145 (19.4%), p < 0.001) and HF (150 (78.9%) vs. 46 (6.2%), p < 0.001). LVSD was associated with worse functional mRS outcomes at 3 months (adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.03–1.92, p = 0.030). Survival analysis identified LVSD to significantly predict all-cause mortality (adjusted HR [aHR] 3.38, 95% CI 1.74–6.54, p < 0.001), subsequent HF admission (aHR 4.23, 95% CI 2.17–8.26, p < 0.001) and MI (aHR 2.49, 95% CI 1.44–4.32, p = 0.001). LVSD did not predict recurrent stroke/TIA (aHR 1.15, 95% CI 0.77–1.72, p = 0.496); (4) Conclusions: LVSD in AIS patients undergoing thrombolysis was associated with increased all-cause mortality, subsequent HF admission, subsequent MI and poorer functional outcomes, highlighting a need to optimize LVEF.

Left ventricular systolic dysfunction predicts clinical prognosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke after intravenous thrombolysis

“…In the current study, we evaluated the association of LVSD with clinical outcomes in AIS patients against the latest international guidelines for heart failure [ 31 ]. Our findings were consistent with a recent study that had similar baseline LVEF characteristics and reported adverse functional outcomes at 90 days in AIS patients treated with IV thrombolysis [ 32 ]. In contrast, we added subgroup analysis to improve the stability of the results, and found the best LVEF predictors (48%) of adverse neurological outcomes through restricted cubic spline analysis.…”