Factors affecting the first recurrence of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke

Studies of the factors affecting the first recurrence of ischemic stroke ha ve reported inconsistent findings. Types of initial stroke and the racial d ifferences in study samples are among the explanations that may account for this inconsistency. The aims of this study were to estimate the cumulative recurrence rates of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke and identify the fact ors that influence the first recurrence of noncardioembolic ischemic: strok e in the Taiwanese Chinese population. Four hundred and sixty-six patients with noncardioembolic ischemic stroke from thirteen hospitals in Taiwan wer e, followed up in this study to ascertain first recurrence of noncardioembo lic ischemic stroke between October 1992 and April 1995. The Kaplan-Meier m ethod was used to estimate the cumulative recurrence rate. The Cox regressi on model was used to ascertain the significant factors affecting the first recurrence of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. The overall cumulative recu rrence rate was 10.5% (49/466) from the fellow-up period of 30 months. Afte r adjustment for age, sex, treatment modes, and variables pertinent to bloo d pressure, the site of brain lesion remained a significant factor. The rel ative risk of first recurrence for the basal ganglion vs. the region of mid dle cerebral artery was 3.06 (95% CI: 1.29-7.26). The brain lesion site was demonstrated to be an independent predictor of risk for the first recurren ce of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke among the Taiwanese Chinese populati on. Whether this finding was also seen in other populations should be corro borated in future research. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.