Pulse pressure within 3 months after ischemic stroke is associated with long-term stroke outcomes

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pulse pressure (PP) is a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness. Studies on baseline PP and long-term outcomes in patients with stroke are limited. We aimed to evaluate whether PP within 3 months after ischemic stroke was associated with long-term stroke outcomes. METHODS A total of 4,195 patients (61.2 ± 11.6 years, 68.4% men) with first-ever ischemic stroke in 3 months had baseline blood pressure (BP) measured. Study end-points were the combined end-points (recurrent vascular events and all-cause mortality) and recurrent stroke. RESULTS In the group <60 years of age, the BP components of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), or PP did not significantly correlate with long-term stroke outcomes. In the group ≥60 years of age, PP was significantly associated with combined end-points (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.54) and recurrent stroke (HR = 1.46; 95% CI, 1.24-1.72). Combination of SBP and PP, DBP and PP, or MAP and PP, respectively, showed no incremental value of SBP, DBP, or MAP in predicting long-term stroke outcomes. CONCLUSIONS PP was significantly associated with long-term stroke outcomes, and this association was prominent in patients with stroke older than 60 years of age.