Predictors of recurrent ischemic stroke: A retrospective cohort study

Introduction: Cerebrovascular events are one of the most common causes of disability and the third leading cause of death in developed countries. Herein, we aimed to investigate the potential underlying causes of recurrent ischemic stroke. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study conducted in Razi Hospital, Tabriz, Iran between March 2018 and September 2020. Patients with the diagnosis of recurrent ischemic stroke during the study period were eligible to be included. Baseline characteristics and data on the recurrence were collected using chart reviews. Also, binary logistic regression was used to examine the factors related to recurrence. Results: Among one hundred participants with a mean age of 68.88 years, 59% were male. Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, smoking, and hyperlipidemia were identified in 79%, 42%, 24%, 15%, and 15%, respectively. The average recurrence time of stroke was about 2.52 years. According to our findings, a significant relationship between the history of heart diseases and ischemic stroke recurrence was observed (risk ratio: 0.10: 95% confidence interval: 0.03-0.33). Conclusion: We found no significant association between ischemic stroke recurrence and underlying diseases except for heart diseases. Further large-scale observational studies and meta-analyses are recommended to evaluate the possible association.