Body weight changes and incidence of cachexia after stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Metabolism
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Body weight loss is a frequent complication after stroke, negatively impacting clinical outcomes.
• Understanding body composition changes post-stroke is crucial for predicting functional recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate dynamical changes in body composition and weight after ischemic stroke.
• To assess the association between these changes and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective longitudinal observational study of 67 patients with acute ischemic stroke.
• Body composition analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 12-month follow-up.
• Cachexia defined by ≥5% body weight loss within 1 year plus clinical signs; lean tissue wasting defined by specific limb mass indices.

Main Results:

• 21% of patients developed cachexia within 12 months; cachectic patients showed significant fat and lean tissue loss.
• Cachectic patients had worse functional outcomes: higher modified Rankin Scale, lower Barthel Index, and reduced handgrip strength.
• Lean tissue wasting was independently associated with low physical performance (OR 137.9, P<0.05) after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions:

• Cachexia affects approximately one in five ischemic stroke patients within a year.
• Cachectic stroke survivors exhibit the poorest functional and physical capacity.
• Lean tissue wasting is a critical indicator of long-term physical performance deficits after stroke.