The association between arterial stiffness, initial stroke severity, and 3 week outcomes in ischaemic stroke patients

Objectives: Vascular compliance is emerging as a useful cardiovascular risk factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between arterial stiffness and stroke severity at presentation and at three weeks. Methods: From an initial sample of 73 patients, 42 were included (55% male, mean age 71 years) with acute ischaemic stroke, over a 15 month period. Stroke subtypes were classified into LACI, PACI and POCI. Arterial stiffness was measured by QKD using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and ECG monitoring. The measured QKD values were then corrected for a heart rate of 60bpm and a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 100 mmHg (QKD100-60). Stroke severity was assessed on admission and after 3 weeks, using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Results: There was a non-significant weak correlation between initial stroke severity and QKD100-60 (r= -0.3, p = 0.08). This correlation was weaker at 3 weeks (r= ¬0.125, p=0.47). There was no difference in NIHSS at week 0 and 3, or QKD100-60, between the different stroke types (LACI, PACI and POCI) or dipper versus non-dippers and reverse dippers. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further research into the association between QKD and initial stroke severity.