Predictors of acute stroke mimics in 8187 patients referred to a stroke service

Some patients seen by a stroke team do not have cerebrovascular disease but a condition that mimics stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and predictors of stroke mimics in a large sample.

This is an analysis of data from consecutive patients seen by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Program over 10 years. Data were collected prospectively as a quality improvement initiative. Patients with a cerebrovascular event or a stroke mimic were compared with the Student t or Pearson chi-square test as appropriate, and logistic regression was done to identify independent predictors.

The analysis included 8187 patients: 30% had a stroke mimic. Patients with a stroke mimic were younger, and the proportion of patients with a stroke mimic was higher among women, patients without any risk factors, those seen as a code stroke or who arrived to the emergency department via personal vehicle, and those who had the onset of symptoms while inpatients. The proportion of patients with a stroke mimic was marginally higher among African-Americans than Caucasians. Factors associated with the greatest odds of having a stroke mimic in the logistic regression were lack of a history of hypertension, atrial fibrillation or hyperlipidemia.

One third of the patients seen by a stroke team over 10 years had a stroke mimic. Factors associated with a stroke mimic may be ascertained by an emergency physician before calling the stroke team.