Background and purpose: Limited data exist on the comparative recovery patterns and outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage in China.
Methods: Data on baseline characteristics and outcomes of 6354 patients at 3 and 12 months poststroke are from ChinaQUEST (QUality Evaluation of Stroke Care and Treatment), a multicenter, prospective, 62-hospital registry study in China. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with a poor outcome defined by death/dependency (modified Rankin Scale score of 3 to 5) on follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess variations in recovery pattern by stroke type.
Results: Baseline severity and rate of functional recovery in the early phase were significantly greater for intracerebral hemorrhage. However, patients with ischemic stroke were on average twice as likely to experience a good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score <3) by 12 months poststroke (OR: 1.98, CI: 1.76 to 2.24). In patients with ischemic stroke, diabetes and atrial fibrillation were strongly associated with a poor outcome at 12 months poststroke even after adjustment for confounding factors such as age, prior stroke/dependency, time to presentation, and stroke severity, whereas use of antiplatelets and lipid-lowering therapy after stroke were associated with improved outcome. For patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, low education and atrial fibrillation were associated with a poor outcome after adjustment for potential confounders and antihypertensive use was strongly associated with improved outcome.
Conclusions: Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke have different recovery patterns in China. However, they share similar prognostic factors and in the use of evidence-based secondary prevention therapies to maximize chances of a good outcome.