Risk Factors and Risk Model Construction of Stroke in Patients with Vertigo in Emergency Department

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Emergency Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• Vertigo is a common emergency department complaint.
• Differentiating vertigo from stroke is critical for timely intervention.
• Identifying stroke risk factors in vertigo patients is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore stroke risk factors in emergency department patients presenting with vertigo.
• To establish a predictive risk model for stroke in these patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 301 vertigo patients (January 2020 - January 2021).
• Comparison of clinical characteristics between stroke (n=56) and non-stroke (n=245) groups.
• Binary logistic regression and ROC curve analysis to identify risk factors and model effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Stroke patients were older, with higher blood pressure, and more comorbidities like diabetes and atrial fibrillation.
• Neurological deficits (weakness, dysphagia, ataxia) were more common in the stroke group.
• Key predictors for stroke included age ≥ 60, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, focal weakness, dysphagia, or ataxia (AUC=0.87).

Conclusions:

• Age, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and specific neurological signs are significant stroke risk factors in vertigo patients.
• A validated risk prediction model can assist emergency departments in assessing stroke risk.
• Early identification of stroke risk in vertigo patients is crucial for prompt management.