Peter Rothwell

BACKGROUND Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the cerebellum has a poor short-term prognosis, whereas data on the long-term case fatality and recurrent vascular events are sparse. Herewith, we aimed to assess the long-term case fatality and recurrence rate of vascular events after a first cerebellar ICH. METHODS In this international cohort study, we included patients from 10 hospitals (the United States and Europe from 1997 to 2017) aged ≥18 years with a first spontaneous cerebellar ICH who were discharged alive. Data on long-term case fatality and recurrence of vascular events (recurrent ICH [supratentoria or infratentorial], ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or major vascular surgery) were collected for survival analysis and absolute event rate calculation. RESULTS We included 405 patients with cerebellar ICH (mean age [SD], 72 [13] years, 49% female). The median survival time …

Background: Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with an increased risk of stroke. However, there is scant evidence on its impact on long-term stroke outcomes. We investigate its long-term impact on stroke incidence, mortality, functional outcome, quality-of-life and life-expectancy. Methods: In a prospective population-based cohort, deprivation (based on residential postcode and stratified into quartiles using the national cut-points for England) was related to incident stroke, 10-year mortality, disability (modified Rankin Scale>2), institutionalisation in long-term care facilities, quality of life (Euroqol-5Dimensions), and life expectancy (including disability-free and quality-adjusted) after first-ever stroke. Cox, logistic and ordinary least squares regression were used to adjust for age, sex, urban-rural mix, previous comorbidity/disability, risk factors, stroke severity and type. Findings: Out of a population of 94,567 people …

Background: The increased risk of dementia after delirium and infection might be influenced by cerebral small vessel disease-SVD. We determined associations between hospitalisations with delirium, and with infection on follow-up after TIA/minor stroke and 5-year dementia risk, stratified by moderate/severe SVD on baseline brain imaging. Methods: In a population-based study (n=94 567) of TIA/minor stroke (NIHSS<3) ascertained 2002-2012 (Oxford Vascular Study-OXVASC), hospitalisations on follow-up were identified from the Oxford Cognitive Comorbidity, Frailty and Ageing Research Database-ORCHARD. Delirium and infection were defined by ICD-10 coding supplemented by hand-searching of hospital records. Dementia was diagnosed using clinical/cognitive assessment, medical records and death certificates. Dementia risk was determined using time-varying Cox analysis with multivariable adjustment …

Time-of-day significantly influences the severity and incidence of stroke. Evidence has emerged not only for circadian governance over stroke risk factors, but also for important determinants of clinical outcome. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the interplay between chronobiology and cerebrovascular disease. We discuss circadian regulation of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying stroke onset or tolerance as well as in vascular dementia. This includes cell death mechanisms, metabolism, mitochondrial function, and inflammation/immunity. Furthermore, we present clinical evidence supporting the link between disrupted circadian rhythms and increased susceptibility to stroke and dementia. We propose that circadian regulation of biochemical and physiological pathways in the brain increase susceptibility to damage after stroke in sleep and attenuate treatment effectiveness during the …

BackgroundThe increased risk of dementia after delirium and infection might be influenced by cerebral white matter disease (WMD). In patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke, we assessed associations between hospital admissions with delirium and 5-year dementia risk and between admissions with infection and dementia risk, stratified by WMD severity (moderate or severe vs absent or mild) on baseline brain imaging.MethodsWe included patients with TIA and minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Score <3) from the Oxford Vascular Study (OXVASC), a longitudinal population-based study of the incidence and outcomes of acute vascular events in a population of 94 567 individuals, with no age restrictions, attending eight general practices in Oxfordshire, UK. Hospitalisation data were obtained through linkage to the Oxford Cognitive Comorbidity, Frailty, and Ageing Research …

BackgroundStroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Retinal imaging allows non-invasive assessment of the microvasculature. Consequently, retinal imaging is a technology which is garnering increasing attention as a means of assessing cardiovascular health and stroke risk.MethodsA biomedical literature search was performed to identify prospective studies that assess the role of retinal imaging derived biomarkers as indicators of stroke risk.ResultsTwenty-four studies were included in this systematic review. The available evidence suggests that wider retinal venules, lower fractal dimension, increased arteriolar tortuosity, presence of retinopathy, and presence of retinal emboli are associated with increased likelihood of stroke. There is weaker evidence to suggest that narrower arterioles and the presence of individual retinopathy traits such as microaneurysms and arteriovenous nicking indicate …

Background and ObjectivesAnti-inflammatory therapies reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in coronary artery disease but remain unproven after stroke. Establishing the subtype-specific association between inflammatory markers and recurrence risk is essential for optimal selection of patients in randomized trials (RCTs) of anti-inflammatory therapies for secondary stroke prevention.MethodsUsing individual participant data (IPD) identified from a systematic review, we analyzed the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and vascular recurrence after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. The prespecified coprimary end points were (1) any recurrent MACE (first major coronary event, recurrent stroke, or vascular death) and (2) any recurrent stroke (ischemic, hemorrhagic, or unspecified) after sample measurement. Analyses were performed stratified by …

BackgroundMultimorbidity is common in patients with stroke and is associated with increased medium- to long-term mortality, but its value for clinical decision-making and case-mix adjustment will depend on other factors, such as age, stroke severity, etiological subtype, prior disability, and vascular risk factors.AimsIn the absence of previous studies, we related multimorbidity to long-term post-stroke mortality with stratification by these factors.MethodsIn patients ascertained in a population-based stroke incidence study (Oxford Vascular Study; 2002–2017), we related pre-stroke multimorbidity (weighted/unweighted Charlson comorbidity index (CCI)) to all-cause/vascular/non-vascular mortality (1/5/10 years) using regression models adjusted/stratified by age, sex, predicted early outcome (THRIVE score), stroke severity (NIH stroke scale (NIHSS)), etiology (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST …