Aortic Arch Calcification Observed on Chest X-Ray May Serve as an Independent Predictor for Recurrent Stroke.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Predictive markers for recurrent strokes are crucial despite advances in diagnostics and treatment.
• Aortic arch calcification (AAC) is a potential, yet understudied, indicator for stroke recurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between aortic arch calcification (AAC) and the risk of stroke recurrence.
• To evaluate AAC as a prognostic marker in patients following their first stroke event.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of first-time stroke patients was followed for one year to record recurrent events.
• Aortic arch calcification (AAC) was assessed using chest radiography and categorized by severity.
• Statistical analyses, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate regression, were employed.

Main Results:

• A total of 203 patients were analyzed; 49 experienced recurrent strokes.
• Aortic arch calcification (AAC), hypertension, and atrial fibrillation were more prevalent in patients with recurrent strokes.
• Multivariate analysis identified AAC (HR, 3.544) and red cell distribution width (RDW) (HR, 1.214) as independent predictors of recurrent stroke.

Conclusions:

• The presence of aortic arch calcification (AAC) and elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) are significantly associated with recurrent stroke within one year.
• These findings suggest AAC and RDW hold prognostic value for stroke patient follow-up.