Objective To investigate the medication adherence to antihypertensives, antidiabetics, and lipid-lowering agents and its influence on the prognosis of individuals at high risk of stroke. Methods A total of 16892 residents aged 40 years or above in eight communities in Sichuan participated in a face-to-face study from May to September 2015. A database of a high-risk population of stroke in Sichuan province was established, and data were collected via using a standardized structured questionnaire by experienced investigators, including the treatment status and medication compliance of participants with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia during the follow-up period. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the influencing factors of medication adherence and its influence on the prognosis of individuals at high risk of stroke. Results A total of 2893 participants at high risk of stroke were enrolled. The treatment rates of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were 50.1%, 49.2%, and 5.1%, respectively, when the high-risk individuals were identified. At the end of follow-up (with a median follow-up period of 4.8 years), the treatment rates of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were 24.8%, 25.0%, and 7.9%, respectively. Medication adherence to antihypertensives, antidiabetics, and lipid-lowering agents were 27.8%, 25.5%, and 18.1%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the education level of high school or above [odds ratio (OR)=2.134, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.098, 4.147), P=0.025], medical insurance for urban residents [OR=1.556, 95%CI (1.086, 2.230), P=0.016] and urban employees [OR=2.325, 95%CI (1.362, 3.967), P=0.002], having fewer children [OR=0.819, 95%CI (0.719, 0.933), P=0.003], and family history of stroke [OR=1.559, 95%CI (1.066, 2.282), P=0.022] were associated with greater adherence to antihypertensives; medical insurance for urban employees was associated with greater adherence to antidiabetics [OR=2.494, 95%CI (1.173, 5.300), P=0.018]. After adjusting for confounding factors, failure to regular use of antihypertensives [OR=2.617, 95%CI (1.414, 4.842), P=0.002], antidiabetics [OR=3.909, 95%CI (2.394, 6.380), P<0.001], and lipid-lowering agents [OR=4.828, 95%CI (2.581, 9.033), P<0.001] in patients with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, respectively were associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke during the follow-up period. Regular use of lipid-lowering agents in patients with dyslipidemia was associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage during the follow-up [OR=4.371, 95%CI (1.156, 16.530), P=0.030]. Conclusions The prevalences of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are high in high-risk individuals of stroke in Sichuan province. However, the treatment rates are unsatisfactory, and the medication adherence is poor. The medication adherence is affected by a variety of demographic and socioeconomic factors. Regular treatments of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia reduce the risk of ischemic stroke in individuals at high risk of stroke, but regular use of lipid-lowering agents in patients with dyslipidemia is associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage during the follow-up.
Objective To evaluate the associations of 16 variants in clopidogrel-relevant genes with early neurological deterioration (END) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving clopidogrel treatment. Methods AIS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of three hospitals between June 2014 and January 2015 were included. The 16 variants in clopidogrel-relevant genes were examined using mass spectrometry. Gene-gene interactions were analyzed by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) methods. The primary outcome was END within the 10 days of admission. Results A total of 375 patients with AIS were included. Among the 375 patients, 95 (25.33%) patients developed END within the first 10 days of admission. Among the 16 variants, only CYP2C19*2 rs4244285 AG+AA was associated with END using single-locus analytical approach (P<0.001). GMDR analysis revealed that there was a synergistic effect of gene-gene interactions among CYP2C19*2 rs4244285, P2Y12 rs16863323, and GPⅢa rs2317676 on risk for END (P=0.019). Cox regression analysis showed that the high-risk interactive genotype was independent predictor for END [hazard ratio=2.184, 95% confidence interval (1.472, 3.238), P=0.004]. Conclusions END is very common in patients with AIS. Interactions among CYP2C19*2 rs4244285, P2Y12 rs16863323, and GPⅢa rs2317676 may confer a higher risk for END. It may be very important to modify clopidogrel therapy for the patients carrying the high-risk interactive genotype.
Objective To explore the relationship between neurofilament light chain (NfL) level and early neurological deterioration (END) after acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods The means of multi-center observational study were adopted to include patients with ACI within 72 hours of onset in 4 hospitals in Deyang between March 31, 2019 and July 31, 2021, to explore the risk factors of END. Results A total of 339 patients with ACI were included in this study, including 131 women and 208 men, aged (68.1±11.6) years. END occurred in 80 patients within 7 days after admission, and the incidence of END was 23.6%. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score and NfL level of patients without END were lower than those with END (P<0.05). Cox proportional risk model showed that NfL level [hazard ratio (HR)=1.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.025, 1.050), P<0.001], admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score [HR=1.202, 95% CI (1.127, 1.282), P<0.001], initial blood glucose [HR=1.068, 95% CI (1.006, 1.133), P=0.030] were related to the occurrence of END. Conclusion The level of NfL, the severity of stroke, and the bloodglucose at admission are related to the occurrence of END in patients with ACI. Measures can be taken to control the above problems as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of END.
Objective To explore the correlation between DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) and early neurological deterioration (END) after cerebral infarction in real-world study. Methods A multicenter registry observational study was conducted, enrolling patients with acute cerebral infarction within 72 h of onset from five hospitals in Deyang from March 31st, 2019, to July 31st, 2021. The patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment regimen, whether they received NBP in addition to standard therapy or not. The primary endpoint was END after cerebral infarction, and the secondary endpoint was unfavorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 3 to 6) 90 d after onset. Results A total of 314 patients with cerebral infarction were included in the study, among whom, 126 received standard therapy without NBP treatment (standard treatment group) and 188 received NBP in addition to standard therapy (NBP treatment group). A total of 69 cases occurred END within 10 d after admission. In the NBP treatment group, 32 cases (17.0%) had END within 10 d after admission, while in the standard treatment group, 37 cases (29.4%) occurred END, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P=0.010). Logistic regression analyses showed that the influencing factors related to END included the serum neurofilament light chain level on admission [odds ratio (OR)=1.020, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.004, 1.035), P=0.013], NBP treatment [OR=0.449, 95%CI (0.253, 0.797), P=0.006], and dual antiplatelet therapy [OR=0.373, 95%CI (0.196, 0.710), P=0.003], and the influencing factors for poor neurological functional prognosis in patients with cerebral infarction included age [OR=1.063, 95%CI (1.024, 1.103), P=0.002], National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score on admission [OR=1.532, 95%CI (1.313, 1.787), P<0.001], NBP treatment [OR=0.375, 95%CI (0.177, 0.794), P=0.010], and END [OR=7.450, 95%CI (3.294, 16.852), P<0.001]. Conclusion The results of our study provide the initial evidence that NBP treatment reduces the occurrence of END, and improves the neurological functional prognosis 90 d after onset in the real world.