Five-year Prognosis after Mild to Moderate Ischemic Stroke by Stroke Subtype: A Multi-Clinic Registry Study

Background and Purpose: Mild to moderate ischemic stroke is a common presentation in the outpatient setting. Among the various subtypes of stroke, lacunar infarction (LI) is generally very common. Currently, little is known about the long-term prognosis and factors associated with the prognosis between LI and non-LI. This study aims to compare the risk of death and acute cardiovascular events between patients with LI and non-LI, and identify potential risk factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: A total of 710 first-ever ischemic stroke patients (LI: 474, non-LI: 263) from 18 clinics were recruited consecutively from 2003 to 2004. They were prospectively followed-up until the end of 2008. Hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: After a 5-year follow up, 54 deaths and 96 acute cardiovascular events occurred. Recurrent stroke was the most common cause of death (19 cases, 35.18%) and new acute cardiovascular events (75 cases, 78.13%). There were no significant differences between patients with LI and non-LI in their risks of death, new cardiovascular events, and recurren