Higher allostatic load at hospitalization is linked to worse outcome 90 days after stroke

Allostatic load (AL), a marker of cumulative stress-related physiologic burden, may influence acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcome through multisystem dysregulation.

A total of 4,103 AIS patients were recruited from Houston Methodist Registry of Neurological Endpoint Assessments among Patients with Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke (REINAH). Clinical information was collected at initial hospital stay and AL was created using ten parameters representing the metabolic, inflammatory and vascular systems. No neuroendocrine parameters were available. Length of stay (LOS) at the hospital was collected upon departure from the initial hospitalization, and mortality and dependency (modified Rankin Scale) were collected at 90 days post stroke. Factors independently associated with high AL were examined using a multivariable logistic regression model. Associations between baseline AL and post-stroke outcomes (LOS, mortality, and dependency) were examined using unadjusted and adjusted regression models.

High AL was associated with longer LOS, and higher mortality and dependency at 90 days. Factors independently associated with high AL included younger age, Black race, higher area deprivation index, being single, illegal drug use, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, higher Charlson comorbidity index, anticoagulation reversal therapy, antihypertensive therapy, and higher NIHSS at 6 and 24 h post stroke, whereas being a woman, hypercholesterolemia, atrial fibrillation, anticoagulant therapy, intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment, and endovascular thrombectomy were associated with moderate-low AL.

High AL is associated with poorer functional and clinical outcomes after AIS and may support future risk stratification work.