Stroke Characteristics in Patients with Pretreated Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) is one of the most important vascular risk factors for stroke that can be treated. The present retrospective study analyses the influence of pretreated AH on the outcome of patients with ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes, compared to those with normal blood pressure (BP). Patients and Methods: The demographic features, vascular risk factors, stroke type, stroke severity (according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke scale) and disability (according to the modified Rankin scale) were compared between 806 pretreated hypertensive patients and 320 ones with normal BP. Results: The incidence and the severity of the ischaemic strokes were similar but the outcome was worse in patients with pretreated AH compared to those with normal BP. In the former patients, coronary artery disease and isolated atrial fibrillation were found as confounders on multivariate analysis. The incidence, the severity and the outcome of patients with a haemorrhagic stroke were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The outcome in ischaemic stroke is worse in pretreated AH patients, compared to normotensive ones, probably due to the higher incidence of other associated vascular risk factors. Pretreated AH improves the outcome of patients with a haemorrhagic stroke.