Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden

Objectives We aimed to study how the individual items of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission predict functional independence 3 months post-stroke in patients with first-ever stroke.Setting This registry-based study used data from two Swedish stroke registers (Riksstro...

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Main Authors: Katharina S Sunnerhagen, Hege Ihle Hansen, Tamar Abzhandadze, Haakon Ihle-Hansen, Guri Hagberg, Malin Reinholdsson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e080007.full
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author Katharina S Sunnerhagen
Hege Ihle Hansen
Tamar Abzhandadze
Haakon Ihle-Hansen
Guri Hagberg
Malin Reinholdsson
author_facet Katharina S Sunnerhagen
Hege Ihle Hansen
Tamar Abzhandadze
Haakon Ihle-Hansen
Guri Hagberg
Malin Reinholdsson
author_sort Katharina S Sunnerhagen
collection DOAJ
description Objectives We aimed to study how the individual items of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission predict functional independence 3 months post-stroke in patients with first-ever stroke.Setting This registry-based study used data from two Swedish stroke registers (Riksstroke, the mandatory national quality register for stroke care in Sweden, and Väststroke, a local quality stroke register in Gothenburg).Participants This study included patients with first-ever acute stroke admitted from November 2014 to August 2018, with available NIHSS at admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3-month follow-up.Primary outcome The primary outcome variable was mRS≤1 (defined as an excellent outcome) at 3-month follow-up.Results We included 1471 patients, mean age was 72 (± 14.5) years, 48% were female, and 66% had mild strokes (NIHSS≤3). In adjusted binary logistic regression analysis, the NIHSS items impaired right motor arm and leg, and impairment in visual field, reduced the odds of an excellent outcome at 3 months ((OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.98), OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.97), and OR 0.65 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.94)). When exploring the effect size of associations between NIHSS items and mRS≤1 p, orientation, language and right leg motor had the largest yet small association.Conclusions Stroke patients with scores on the NIHSS items right motor symptoms or visual field at admission are less likely to have an excellent outcome at 3 months. Clinicians should consider the NIHSS items affected, not only the total NIHSS score, both in treatment guidance and prognostics.
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spelling doaj-art-f225afa958544a358c5a540b2ece00ff2025-08-20T01:47:38ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-12-01131210.1136/bmjopen-2023-080007Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of SwedenKatharina S Sunnerhagen0Hege Ihle Hansen1Tamar Abzhandadze2Haakon Ihle-Hansen3Guri Hagberg4Malin Reinholdsson5Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Goteborg, SwedenOslo Stroke Unit, Neurological Department, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Medicine, Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Drammen, NorwayInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo Faculty of Medicine, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Goteborg, SwedenObjectives We aimed to study how the individual items of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission predict functional independence 3 months post-stroke in patients with first-ever stroke.Setting This registry-based study used data from two Swedish stroke registers (Riksstroke, the mandatory national quality register for stroke care in Sweden, and Väststroke, a local quality stroke register in Gothenburg).Participants This study included patients with first-ever acute stroke admitted from November 2014 to August 2018, with available NIHSS at admission and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3-month follow-up.Primary outcome The primary outcome variable was mRS≤1 (defined as an excellent outcome) at 3-month follow-up.Results We included 1471 patients, mean age was 72 (± 14.5) years, 48% were female, and 66% had mild strokes (NIHSS≤3). In adjusted binary logistic regression analysis, the NIHSS items impaired right motor arm and leg, and impairment in visual field, reduced the odds of an excellent outcome at 3 months ((OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.98), OR 0.60 (95% CI 0.37 to 0.97), and OR 0.65 (95% CI 0.45 to 0.94)). When exploring the effect size of associations between NIHSS items and mRS≤1 p, orientation, language and right leg motor had the largest yet small association.Conclusions Stroke patients with scores on the NIHSS items right motor symptoms or visual field at admission are less likely to have an excellent outcome at 3 months. Clinicians should consider the NIHSS items affected, not only the total NIHSS score, both in treatment guidance and prognostics.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e080007.full
spellingShingle Katharina S Sunnerhagen
Hege Ihle Hansen
Tamar Abzhandadze
Haakon Ihle-Hansen
Guri Hagberg
Malin Reinholdsson
Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
BMJ Open
title Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
title_full Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
title_fullStr Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
title_short Prognostic value of acute National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Items on disability: a registry study of first-ever stroke in the western part of Sweden
title_sort prognostic value of acute national institutes of health stroke scale items on disability a registry study of first ever stroke in the western part of sweden
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e080007.full
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