Key Points
- To determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, mortality rates, and predisposing risk factors for in-hospital stroke following acute myocardial infarction.
- Evaluated clinical data from 740 consecutive patients admitted to a cardiac care unit with acute myocardial infarction using a computer database.
- Assessed associations between stroke occurrence and variables including cardiac arrhythmias, infarct location, peak creatine kinase, and clinical outcomes.
- In-hospital stroke occurred in 2.4% (18/740) of patients, with 76% involving the anterior circulation.
- Hospital mortality was 61% in patients who developed stroke compared to 13% in patients without stroke.
- Atrial arrhythmia was a significant risk factor for stroke (p ≤ 0.03), with cardiac pump failure, apical or anterolateral infarction, and prior stroke history also linked to increased embolic risk.
Structured PICO
PPopulation740 consecutive patients admitted to a cardiac care unit with myocardial infarction
OOutcomeIn-hospital strokehard clinical
In-hospital stroke following myocardial infarction occurs in 2.4% of patients and is associated with a markedly increased hospital mortality of 61%.