Predictive utility of stress tests in the detection of asymptomatic coronary artery disease in atherosclerotic stroke patients.

INTRODUCTION

Whether and how atherosclerotic ischemic stroke patients should be investigated for asymptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD) is controversial. Our aim was to carry out a prospective observational study to determine the frequency and predictors of functionally significant coronary stenosis in these patients as well as the predictors of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during post-stroke follow-up.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From January 2014 to June 2018, patients with atherosclerotic ischemic stroke were referred from the stroke unit to our cardiovascular department 3+/- 1 months after the acute event where they benefited from evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors, vascular and myocardial disease. Main outcome was defined as the prevalence of myocardial ischemia defined by perfusion stress echography 3 months after stroke. Secondary outcome (MACE) was defined as the incidence of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), acute coronary syndrome, cardiovascular (CV) death or coronary or peripheral revascularization during a 3 year follow-up.

RESULTS

Three hundred and twenty five patients (92% of strokes and 8% TIA) were included and median follow-up was 1075 days. At 3 months post-stroke, myocardial ischemia was found in 17 patients (5.2%). During the 3 year follow-up, 11 MACE occurred (3.4%, all in the non-ischemic group) of which 6 were recurrent strokes. In multivariate analysis, myocardial ischemia was significantly associated with the number of atheromatous vascular beds (OR 4.3; 95% CI, 1.7 to 10.6) and ECG signs of necrosis (OR 6.5; 95% CI, 1.9 to 21.9). MACE were also associated with ECG signs of necrosis (OR 3.5; 95% CI, 1.3 to 9.1), and unrelated to myocardial ischemia.

CONCLUSION

Myocardial ischemia and CV events were infrequent and both strongly associated with ECG signs of necrosis, suggesting a low yield of stress tests and the potential for a more straightforward algorithm in the choice of patients eligible to coronary angiogram or other coronary imaging in post-stroke setting.