Outcome predictors in anterior and posterior ischemic strokes: a study based on the Iranian SITS registry

Ischemic stroke is the major form of stroke with two separate vascular territories. Many risk factors are related to stroke outcomes in both territories. The present descriptive research was carried out on the basis of data obtained from the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke (SITS) registry on Iranian intravenous thrombolysis ischemic stroke cases. Vascular territory involved in each case and three-month excellent outcome, functional independence, mortality rate, and brain hemorrhage occurrence were determined. Univariable and multivariable logistics regression analyses were utilized in order to investigate association of ischemic stroke outcomes with the vascular territory involved and other related factors. Among 1566 patients 95.4% was anterior circulation stroke patients and 4.6% was posterior circulation stroke cases. There is no significant association between vascular territory with mortality (OR of PCS vs ACS: 0.74, 95% CI 0.37-1.46), excellent functional outcome (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.44-1.19), functional outcome (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.52-1.42) and local hemorrhage (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.30-3.21). Among major risk factors, age, diabetes, NIHSS score and admission duration, increased significantly odds of three-month mortality, excellent outcome, and functional independence in the multivariate analysis. The highest of odds was in NIHSS score with a dose-response association. The vascular territory was not an outcome predictor in ischemic strokes. The most important predictor was baseline NIHSS.