Analyzing the effects of anemia on the outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in ischemic stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Anemia is a common yet often overlooked condition in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Hemoglobin levels play a crucial role in oxygen transport, and their depletion may exacerbate ischemic injury and worsen functional outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of anemia on the functional and survival outcomes of patients with AIS treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Methods: -value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: = 0.91). Younger age, lower baseline NIH Stroke Scale, and higher hemoglobin levels were significant predictors of good prognosis. Conclusion: Anemia negatively impacted functional recovery and survival in patients with AIS undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. Given these findings, optimizing hemoglobin levels may be a potential strategy to improve patient outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to explore the benefits of anemia correction strategies in stroke management.