Plasma D-dimer level is associated with clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation related acute ischemic stroke after pneumonia.

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is related to poor prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and its risk might be higher in atrial fibrillation (AF) related AIS with elevated plasma D-dimer. The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic value of D-dimer for predicting clinical outcome of AF-related AIS with pneumonia.

METHOD

AF-related AIS patients with pneumonia were prospectively enrolled. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal D-dimer point for 3-month mortality and death/severe disability. The associations between the D-dimer and 3-month mortality and death/severe disability were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 415 patients were enrolled in this study. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut point of D-dimer for 3-month death/severe disability and mortality were D-dimer≥2.35 mg/l and D-dimer≥3.35 mg/l, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that D-dimer≥2.35 mg/l [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.99, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.04-11.83, P<0.001], higher NIHISS score (aOR:1.53, 95% CI: 1.38-1.69, P<0.001) and larger infarct volume (aOR 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02, P<0.001) were associated with increased risk of 3-month death/severe disability), and anticoagulant was associated with decreased risk of death/severe disability (aOR:0.21, 95% CI: 0.09-0.47, P<0.001). Higher NIHISS score (aOR:1.64, 95% CI: 1.38-1.94, P<0.001), older age (aOR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14, P = 0.007), D-dimer≥3.35 mg/l (OR 8.49, 95% CI: 4.13-17.84,P<0.001), larger infarct volume (aOR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00-1.03, P = 0.014), and higher CRUB-65 score (aOR 6.43, 95% CI: 3.10-13.34, P<0.001) were associated with increased risk of 3-month mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

AF-related AIS patients with concurrent high D-dimer and pneumonia increased risk of 3-month mortality and death/severe disability, plasma D-dimer may have predictive value in outcome after AF-related AIS with pneumonia.