Acute Ischemic Stroke Risk Following Cardiac Interventions in the United States From 2016 to 2021

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Ischemic stroke is a severe complication following cardiac interventions.
• Limited comparative data exist on stroke risk and severity across different cardiac intervention types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the incidence of ischemic stroke in patients undergoing cardiac interventions.
• To identify risk factors and variables associated with stroke risk and severity.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional cohort study using US National Inpatient Sample data (2016-2021).
• Included adult hospitalizations for cardiac interventions within "Cardiac Surgery" Diagnosis-Related Groups.
• Analyzed stroke incidence, severity (NIHSS), and in-hospital mortality, comparing intervention types.

Main Results:

• 1.24% of 6,083,899 cardiac intervention hospitalizations involved ischemic stroke.
• Higher stroke risk observed in females, patients aged 75+, and non-Hispanic Black individuals.
• Open cardiac surgery had higher stroke incidence (OR 2.47) and severity (NIHSS median 5) versus percutaneous interventions.
• Stroke incidence increased from 1.10% (2016) to 1.33% (2021).
• Ischemic stroke increased in-hospital death risk fivefold (OR 5.07).

Conclusions:

• Ischemic stroke incidence during cardiac interventions varies by procedure type and shows an upward trend (2016-2021).
• Patients experiencing stroke post-cardiac intervention face a fivefold higher risk of in-hospital death.
• Further research is needed to identify high-risk groups for targeted monitoring and therapeutic strategies.