Does the second ischemic stroke herald a higher proportional risk for cognitive and physical impairment than the first-ever one?

Abstract

Background

Post-stroke cognitive and physical disabilities are common sequelae; however, it seems that the second ischemic stroke carries a higher proportional risk more than expected. In this study, we aimed to study second stroke sequelae over first-ever one with regard to cognition and physical competence. This study was conducted on two groups; the first composed of 40 patients with acute first lifetime ischemic stroke, and the second group composed of 40 acute second lifetime ischemic stroke. The study was done at menoufiya university hospitals from August 2017 to August 2018. Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and MINI-Cog Score, were performed at onset, 2 weeks and 3 months later. In addition, routine lab and neuro-imaging were also done.

Results

Size of infarction is larger in 2nd group (p < 0.001), MRS, and NIHSS are significantly higher in 2nd group. Also, there are significant differences between baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months follow-up in MRS and NIHSS. Mini-Cog scale showed significant difference between the two groups in favor of better cognition in the 1st group. Atrial fibrillation (AF), p = 0.012 was a significant risk factor in the 1st group while smoking, p = 0.017 was the significant risk factor in the 2nd group. Large size stroke was found as independent risk factor in the 2nd group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

There are significant cognitive and physical disabilities in the second recurrent ischemic stroke as compared to the first-ever one, and the second stroke tend to be more dangerous and carry more disability.

Background

Despite efforts and better control of risk factors, recurrent stroke is still common [1]. Studies show varying recurrence rates, ranging from 7–20% at 1 year to 16–35% at 5 years [2]. About one-half of patients who survive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) are at increased risk of recurrent stroke within a few days or weeks of the initial event, with the greatest risk during the 1st week [3].

Patients who have a TIA have a 10-year stroke risk of 19% and a combined 10-year risk of stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death of 43% [4]. Recurrent events lead to prolonged hospitalization, worsened functional outcome, and increased mortality [5].

Recurrent AIS has been associated with functional dependence and increased mortality [6] but this remains insufficiently explored. It seems that the second recurrent ischemic stroke is not just another stroke, but it carries much more disabilities and add a cumulative burden on cerebral plasticity leading to a magnified cognitive and physical decapacitation. The aim of this study is to define the pattern of disabilities associated with the second stroke in comparison to the first one.

Methods

This prospective hospital-based comparative study was performed on two groups, each composed of 40 patients admitted to Neurology department, menoufiya university hospitals, from August 2017 to August 2018, informed written consent was taken from participants or their caregivers. Group I comprises first AIS insult and includes 20 males and 20 females, while group II comprises second AIS insult patients and includes 19 males and 21 females. We included patients above 50 years old. Excluded patients were those presented with TIA, severe hepatic or renal impairment, post-stroke aphasia, major psychiatric disorders. Randomization was based on to include all consecutive cases who fulfill inclusion and exclusion criteria being presented by a clinically manifest stroke.

Both groups were subjected to full history taking, complete physical and neurological examination, lab investigations (blood sugar, lipid profile, complete blood picture, liver and renal functions and PT and INR). Physical disability was assessed by Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) [7], National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) [8], and cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-Cog scale [9]. The above-mentioned scales were performed by the same examiner at admission, 2 weeks and 3 months later.

All data and materials supporting the results are available.

Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software package version 20 (Armon, NY: IBM Corp, USA). Qualitative data were described using number and percent. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to verify the normality of distribution. Quantitative data were described using range (minimum and maximum), mean, standard deviation and median. Significance of the obtained results was judged at the 5% level. Chi-square test was used for categorical variables, to compare between different groups. Fisher’s exact or Monte Carlo correction was used for correction of Chi-square when more than 20% of the cells have expected count less than five. Student’s t-test was used for normally distributed quantitative variables, to compare between two studied groups. ANOVA was used with repeated measures for normally distributed quantitative variables, to compare between more than two periods or stages, and post hoc test (Bonferroni adjusted) for pairwise comparisons. Mann–Whitney test was used for abnormally distributed quantitative variables, to compare between two studied groups. Friedman test was used for abnormally distributed quantitative variables, to compare between more than two periods or stages and post hoc test (Dunn’s) for pairwise comparisons.

Results

We found that there was insignificant differences between the two groups regarding demographic and risk factors except AF and cigarette smoking (Table 1).

Table 1 Demographic and risk factors in the studied groups

The type of stroke found in both groups was matched either atherothrombotic, cardiac embolic, lacunar, stroke of other causes and stroke of unknown causes p-value, 0.223 (Table 2).

Table 2 Comparison between the two studied groups according to the etiological subtypes of ischemic stroke

Regarding the infarct location found in both groups was matched p-value, 0.208 (Table 3).

Table 3 Comparison between the two studied groups according to infarct location

With regard to the size of infarction, we found that there was significant differences between two groups regarding size of infarction as large sized ones were present more in group II p-value < 0.001 (Table 4).

Table 4 Comparison between the two studied groups according to size of infarction

We found also significant differences between two groups regarding MRS in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months p-value < 0.001 as score was higher in second group (Tables 5, 6).

Table 5 Comparison between the two studied groups according to MRS

Table 6 Comparison between the different studied periods according to MRS

Regarding the NIHSS, we found significant differences between the two groups regarding NIHSS in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months p-value < 0.001 as score was higher in second group (Tables 7, 8).

Table 7 Comparison between the two studied groups according to NIHSS

Table 8 Comparison between the different studied periods according to NIHSS

Regarding the MINI COG, we found significant differences between the two groups regarding MINI COG in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months (Tables 9, 10).

Table 9 Comparison between the two studied groups according to MINI COG

Table 10 Comparison between the different studied periods according to MINI COG

Discussion

In the current study, we aimed to evaluate cognitive impairment and physical disability after second cerebral AIS in comparison with that following the first stroke and studying the risk factors of the recurrent AIS. Forty patients in group I with first stroke and another 40 in group II with second stroke were included.

We found that the type of stroke found in both groups was matched either atherothrombotic, cardiac embolic, lacunar, stroke of other cause and stroke of unknown cause (p-value) 0.223. Two population-based studies found that recurrences were of the same subtype in almost 90% of cases [10, 11].

De la Cámara and colleagues [12] showed that the type of ischemic stroke was atherothrombotic in 62% of included in the study and in 34.6% with recurrent stroke, cardioembolic in 21.5% and 33.8%, respectively, lacunar in 11% and 21.8%, respectively, due to a hypercoagulable state in 1% of patients with first diagnosis, due to non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy in 1%, 66.7%, respectively.

A retrospective hospital-based study with a more detailed categorization of stroke subtypes suggested that stroke recurrences in lacunar and hemorrhagic index strokes are often of a different type [13], hence the hypothesis of the multifactorial origin of stroke recurrence [14].

In the current study we found that there was significant differences between two groups regarding the second stroke location to the first one in the second group of patients as different locations (non-stereotyped) present more in group II than the same location (stereotyped) with (p-value) < 0.001. The stereotyped lesions were 2 temporoparietal, 2 frontal, 1 occipital, and 1 capsular infarctions.

In Schaapsmeerders and colleagues [15] study they found that the type of lesion found was either supratentorial stroke in 79.0%, infratentorial stroke in 18.5% or bilateral in 2.5%.

In this study, we found that there was significant differences between two groups regarding size of infarction as large sized ones were present more in group II (p-value) < 0.001.

In consistent with our results Khedr and colleagues [16], showed that infarction size was larger in patients with dementia and cognitive impairment and that occurs mainly in recurrent strokes with significant difference (p-value = 0.001).

In our study, we found that there were significant differences between the two groups regarding MRS in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months (p-value < 0.001) as score was higher in second group, there were significant differences in MRS in both groups from baseline and after treatment either 2 weeks or 3 months (p-value < 0.001).

Ntaios and colleagues [17] proved that embolic stroke of undetermined etiology cumulative probability of recurrence was similar to cardioembolic strokes, but higher than all the other types of non-cardioembolic stroke. These patients had a favorable functional outcome, defined as MRS ≤ 2 (62.5%), and compared to patients with cardioembolic strokes (32.2%). This explains why the MRS score was higher in recurrent patients in our study, more evidence of role of MRS in predicting unfavorable outcome like recurrent cases Long and colleagues [18] found that MRS was significantly higher in elderly patients with stroke which had bad outcome than younger patients (p-value) < 0.001.

In the current study, we found that there was significant differences between the two groups regarding NIHSS in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months (p-value < 0.001) as score was higher in second group, there was significant differences in NIHSS in group I, II from baseline and after treatment either 2 weeks or 3 months (p-value < 0.001, 0.002), respectively. Alemam and colleagues [19] showed that there was there was a highly statistically significant correlation between NIHSS score and outcome of AIS (p ≤ 0.0001).

We found that there were significant differences between the two groups regarding MINI COG in baseline, after 2 weeks and after 3 months (p-value 0.033, < 0.001), respectively, there was significant differences in MINI COG in group I, II from baseline and after treatment either 2 weeks or 3 months (p-value < 0.001, 0.002), respectively.

This goes with Borson and colleagues [20], as they found that MINI COG was sensitive to recurrent stroke and any dementia that occurred. This explained why in our study its level was much higher in the recurrent group.

Cao and colleagues [21] investigated 40 young patients with ischemic stroke and assessed other domains and found that language comprehension, reasoning, and verbal memory to be most affected. Processing speed was not assessed in these patients.

There were limitations in this study, such as the short duration of follow-up, the number of patients should be increased in further studies, inclusion of patients as first and second stroke should consider imaging as some clinically presented strokes could have previous silent infarcts which might affect the results, a depression scale should be added, and some risk factors like smoking can be a confounding issue that relates to poorer outcome in the second group.

Conclusions

There are significant cognitive and physical disabilities in the second recurrent ischemic stroke as compared to the first one.