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Biomedical subjects

Bo Norrving

Publications and source records attributed to Bo Norrving.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Shoulder pain after stroke: a prospective population-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Shoulder pain is a well-known complication after stroke, but data on prevalence, predictors, and outcome in unselected stroke populations are limited. METHODS: During a 1-year period, 416 first-ever stroke patients were included in the population-based Lund Stroke Register. After 4 months, 327 patients were followed up and 1 year later, the surviving 305 patients were followed up again. General status (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score) was registered at stroke onset. Shoulder pain intensity (visual analog scale, score 0 to 30=no-mild and 40 to 100=moderate-severe pain); arm motor function; restricted dressing and/or ambulating; and functional status (Barthel Index) were registered at both follow ups. RESULTS: Shoulder pain onset within 4 months after stroke was reported by 71 patients (22%). Among the 61 patients able to score the visual analog scale, 79% had moderate-severe pain. One year later, 8 of these 71 patients had died, 17 had no remaining pain, and 28 additional patients had developed shoulder pain since the first follow up. Lost or impaired arm motor function and high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score were predictors of shoulder pain. Shoulder pain restricted daily life often or constantly when dressing for 51%/31% and when ambulating for 29%/13% of the patients at 4 and 16 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Almost one third of the 327 patients developed shoulder pain after stroke onset, a majority with moderate- severe pain. Shoulder pain restricts patients' daily life after stroke. The increased risk of shoulder pain for patients with impaired arm motor function and/or low general status needs close attention in poststroke care.

Adolescent↗

Risk factors for primary intracerebral hemorrhage: a population-based nested case-control study.

PURPOSE: In this population-based study, risk factors for primary intracerebral hemorrhage (PICH) and PICH subtypes were explored in a nested case-control design. METHOD: Risk factors were determined in 22,444 men and 10,902 women (mean age 47 years) who participated in a health-screening programme between 1974 and 1991. 147 subjects with CT or autopsy-verified first-ever PICH during the follow-up period (mean 14 years) were compared with 1,029 stroke-free controls, matched for age, sex and screening-year. RESULTS: As compared to controls, PICH cases had significantly higher blood pressure (135/91 vs. 127/85 mm Hg), triglycerides (1.7 vs. 1.4 mmol/l), BMI (25.5 vs. 24.8) and shorter stature (1.73 vs. 1.74 m). Diabetes (6.9 vs. 2.8 %) and history of psychiatric morbidity (19.7 vs. 11.0 %) were more common in PICH cases and more of them were living alone (35.4 vs. 25.5%). After adjustment in a backward logistic regression model, high systolic blood pressure, diabetes, high triglycerides, short stature and psychiatric morbidity remained significantly associated with PICH. As compared to the control group, high systolic blood pressure was significantly associated both with nonlobar and lobar PICH. Diabetes and psychiatric morbidity were associated with nonlobar PICH. Smoking doubled the risk for lobar PICH, but was unrelated to nonlobar PICH. CONCLUSION: In this prospective population-based study, hypertension, diabetes, height, triglycerides and psychiatric morbidity were risk factors for PICH. Smoking was a risk factor for lobar PICH only.

Adult↗

Prevalence of stroke and vascular risk factors among first-degree relatives of stroke patients and control subjects. A prospective consecutive study.

BACKGROUND: Genetic and environmental factors may be of importance for stroke risk. We assessed the prevalence of stroke and vascular risk factors among first-degree relatives and spouses of stroke patients and control subjects. METHODS: As a part of the Lund Stroke Register study, we asked 925 consecutive patients with first-ever stroke and 286 control subjects to complete a questionnaire about all their first-degree relatives and spouses. The questionnaires addressed whether these relatives had been affected by stroke or TIA, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and if they were smokers. RESULTS: A total of 606 patients and 261 control subjects returned the questionnaire, providing information on 4,972 first-degree relatives and 738 spouses. The prevalence of stroke or TIA was 12.3% among first-degree relatives of patients and 7.5% among first-degree relatives of control subjects (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.36-2.22). Corresponding results for hypertension were 21.0 and 16.7% (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.10-1.60). The prevalences of heart disease, diabetes mellitus and smoking did not differ significantly between first-degree relatives of patients and control subjects. Spouses of patients and control subjects had similar prevalences of stroke or TIA and vascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalences of stroke or TIA and hypertension are higher among first-degree relatives of stroke patients than among first-degree relatives of control subjects. This, and the lack of differences between spouses of patients and control subjects, indicates that an increased risk of stroke may in part be explained by heritability of hypertension.

Aged↗

Determinants of quality of life in stroke survivors and their informal caregivers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We examined longitudinal changes of quality of life (QOL) covering physical and mental factors in an unselected group of stroke patients and their informal caregivers. Our hypothesis was that informal caregivers would have better QOL than patients at both follow-ups, and that changes, if any, would be related to the patients' status. METHODS: QOL of 304 consecutive stroke patients and their 234 informal caregivers from the population-based Lund Stroke Register was assessed 4 months after stroke onset with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. SF-36 was repeated for both groups after 16 months together with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-20) for patients. RESULTS: The patients' mean QOL scores improved between 4 and 16 months after stroke in the socio-emotional and mental SF-36 domains and decreased in the domain physical function. Multivariate analyses showed that the patients' most important determinants of QOL after 16 months were GDS-20 score, functional status, age, and gender. Informal caregivers had better QOL than patients except for the domain role emotional and the mental component summary. The caregivers' most important determinants of QOL were their own age and the patients' functional status. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights depressive symptoms in determining QOL of stroke patients. Despite self-perceived deterioration in physical function over time, several other components of QOL improved, suggesting internal adaptation to changes in their life situations. Informal caregivers of stroke patients may be under considerable strain as suggested by their lower emotional-mental scores.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Marital dissolution is followed by an increased incidence of stroke.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported lower mortality in married people. The relation between marital status and incidence of haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke is unclear. It is largely unknown whether the risk of stroke is increased the first years after divorce or death of spouse. METHODS: Incidence of first-ever stroke (n = 6,184) was followed over 10 years in a cohort consisting of all 40- to 89-year-old inhabitants (n = 118,134) in the city of Malmö, Sweden. Marital dissolution (i.e. divorce or death of spouse) prior to the date of stroke was compared in a nested case-control design (3,134 initially married stroke cases, 9,402 initially married controls). RESULTS: As compared to the married groups, the incidence of stroke was increased in divorced men and women (RR = 1.23, CI: 1.10-1.39 and RR = 1.26, CI: 1.12-1.41, respectively) and widowed men and women (RR = 1.13, CI: 0.99-1.28 and RR = 1.13, CI: 1.02-1.24, respectively) after adjustments for age, country of birth and socioeconomic indicators. The risk of stroke was not increased in never married men. Marital dissolution was followed by increased risk of stroke, which was significant for men (adjusted odds ratio: 1.23, CI: 1.03-1.5) and borderline significant for women below 65 years of age (odds ratio: 1.45, CI: 0.99-2.14). CONCLUSION: The incidence of stroke is increased in divorced and widowed individuals. Never married men do not have an increased incidence. The risk of stroke is elevated during the first years after divorce or death of spouse.

Adult↗

[New aspects of Wallenberg syndrome and other brain stem infarctions].

Studies with MRI and non-invasive vascular imaging have modified previous conceptions on clinical spectrum and causes of different types of brain stem infarcts. Wallenberg's syndrome caused by lateral medullary infarction (LMI) often presents with patterns of sensory loss different from the "classical" crossed type. LMI carries a risk for respiratory and cardiovascular complications in the acute phase, warranting close patient monitoring. Medial medullary infarcts often present with a lacunar syndrome mimicking capsular or pontine small vessel disease. Cerebellar infarcts are most often caused by cardiac embolism. Isolated vertigo may be the only presenting symptom. Neurosurgical intervention of expansive cerebellar infarcts may be life-saving. Clinical features of progressive multifocal brain-stem symptoms are often suggestive of basilar artery occlusion. CT-angiography is a useful initial diagnostic tool. Based on observational studies, intraarterial thrombolysis is used in selected patients with basilar artery occlusion, but further studies are needed to define treatment criteria more precisely.

Basilar Artery↗

[Increased risk of stroke after TIA. New data support the need of urgent management].

The prognosis after TIA may be more serious than previously thought. Recent studies suggest that the risk of subsequent stroke after a TIA may be 5% within the first two days after a TIA, which emphasizes the need for urgent management and institution of therapy. A correct diagnosis is essential, but sometimes difficult because many conditions mimic TIA symptoms. Routine diagnostic procedures include a careful patient history, neurological examination, EKG, CT scan of the brain, and in selected cases carotid and cardiac ultrasound examinations. A recent survey of clinical management after TIA indicates that these investigations are sometimes delayed, particularly in non-hospitalized patients. Patients with a new TIA should immediately be referred to hospital, and ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries (when indicated) should be performed within one week (preferably even earlier) after the TIA onset.

Carotid Arteries↗

Self-reported depression and use of antidepressants after stroke: a national survey.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Depression after stroke is often described as underdiagnosed and undertreated. However, there are few data on self-reported depression and use of antidepressants in stroke patients at large. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the Swedish national quality assessment register, Riks-Stroke, 15 747 stroke survivors are recorded. They were asked about depressive mood and antidepressant treatment 3 months after stroke. Age-specific prevalence of antidepressant use after stroke was calculated. RESULTS: At 3 months after stroke, 12.4% of male and 16.4% of female stroke survivors reported that they always or often felt depressed. In a multiple logistic regression model, female sex, age younger than 65 years, living alone, having had a recurrent stroke, being dependent on others, and institutional living 3 months after stroke were independent predictors of self-reported depression. Antidepressant medication was used by 22.5% of men and 28.1% of women who had had a stroke. Of patients using antidepressant drugs, 67.5% did not report depressive mood. However, 8.4% of the entire cohort reported depressive mood but no treatment with antidepressants. When compared with the general population, approximately twice as many of the stroke patients were using antidepressant treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this national survey, 1 in 7 patients reported that they felt depressed and the use of antidepressant drugs after stroke was common. The widespread use of antidepressants challenges the contention that antidepressants are generally underused after stroke. However, the substantial proportion reporting depressive mood but not using treatment with antidepressants suggests that patient selection for treatment should be more precise.

Aged↗

[Thrombolytic therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Critical analysis of current knowledge].

Thrombolysis is a highly promising treatment in acute ischaemic stroke. There is evidence of positive effects at least up to three hours and most probably up to six. The risk of intracranial haemorrhage is increased fourfold with thrombolysis; risk factors other than the treatment as such have not been identified for certain; the risk is not related to giving thrombolysis during the 0-3 as opposed to the 3-6 hour time window. There is a non-significant excess of deaths, ranging from a small reduction to a substantial excess. There is not enough evidence to answer several questions regarding the influence of patient- and stroke characteristics on effectsize; death; and risk of intracranial haemorrhage. Giving priority to new large randomized controlled trials is essential to achieve this knowledge.

Acute Disease↗

[Improvements of standards in clinical diagnosis of stroke are needed].

A detailed history, neurological examination, and assessment of function are essential procedures in all patients with stroke. Findings need to be adequately documented in the medical records. In a recent study, the documentation of 106 core items in stroke management, as specified in the Swedish National Guidelines for Stroke Management, was evaluated in the records of 70 randomly selected stroke patients treated at 17 hospitals in two county councils between March and May of 2001. The initial screening process and neurological examination were adequately documented in fewer than 50% of the patients. Clinical workup of stroke in routine practice needs to be improved. It is proposed that the documentation of core items be standardized, and that a well validated stroke scale (NIH Stroke Scale), at present mainly used in conjunction with acute thrombolytic therapy, be generally applied to all patients with stroke.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Diffusion-weighted MRI findings in patients with capsular warning syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The 'capsular warning syndrome' (CWS) of recurrent stereotyped episodes of motor or sensory dysfunction is clinically well recognized, and is associated with a high risk of imminent lacunar infarction with permanent deficits resembling those of CWS. However, the pathophysiology of CWS has not been well characterized. We report a clinicoanatomic correlation with MR imaging studies in the acute and chronic phases in patients with CWS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 1997 and March 2001, we prospectively studied 8 patients, mean age 73.3 years, presenting with 4-17 motor or sensorimotor transient ischemic attacks (TIAs; duration 2-90 min) up to 3 days after onset of the first episode. Four patients were free of symptoms between the attacks and had no residua, whereas 4 patients developed a pure motor or sensorimotor stroke within 1-3 days after symptom onset. Diffusion-weighted echoplanar MRI (DWI) and T(2)-weighted MRI studies were performed within 1 week after symptom onset and were repeated 1-2 months later. RESULTS: Seven of the 8 patients had an appropriate lesion on DWI in the acute phase. DWI abnormalities in the 3 patients with TIAs were 4-10 mm in diameter and confined to the lateral thalamus or medial globus pallidus without involving the internal capsule, whereas 4 patients who developed a stroke had abnormalities localized to the putamen extending to corona radiata (3 patients), or the pontomesencephalic junction (1 patient). All 6 patients who underwent follow-up MRI had an infarct on T(2)-weighted images corresponding to, but usually smaller than, the acute phase DWI abnormality. CONCLUSIONS: Small infarcts in the basal ganglia or the pons, close to central motor pathways, appear to be the primary lesion in CWS. The pathophysiology of CWS is complex, and may involve hemodynamic mechanisms in penetrating arterial territories, as well as molecular mechanisms, such as peri-infarct depolarizations affecting adjacent motor pathways.

Aged↗