A case control study between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with ischemic stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Medicine

Background:

• The clinical and prognostic profile of diabetic stroke patients requires further clarification.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for targeted treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical features and risk factor profiles in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke.
• To identify specific characteristics associated with stroke in diabetic individuals.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 98 diabetic and 102 matched non-diabetic acute ischemic stroke patients.
• Assessment of Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) and Rankin disability scale.
• Stroke classification using the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria.
• Evaluation of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and prior stroke/TIA history.
• Conditional logistic regression analysis to determine adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

• Diabetes was significantly associated with the lacunar stroke subtype (OR 3.89, 95% CI 2.23-6.8).
• Diabetic patients had a higher prevalence of hypertension (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.48-4.32).
• Diabetes was linked to a better SSS score on admission (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36-0.96), indicating less severe initial neurological deficit.

Conclusions:

• Diabetic patients exhibit distinct clinical and etiological profiles in acute ischemic stroke.
• Key differences include a higher frequency of hypertension and lacunar stroke, alongside a less severe neurological deficit at admission.
• These findings highlight the need for tailored approaches in managing stroke in diabetic populations.