Influence of chronic ethanol consumption on the neurological severity in patients with acute cerebral ischemia.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
We tested the hypothesis that excessive chronic ethanol consumption is associated with more severe ischemic strokes.


METHODS
We recruited patients with supratentorial cerebral ischemia within 48 hours of symptom onset. We defined heavy drinkers by a weekly consumption of ethanol of ≥300 g and severe strokes by a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score≥6.


RESULTS
Of 436 patients, 60 were heavy drinkers. Being a heavy drinker was independently associated with baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores≥6 (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-5.26; P=0.023) at the logistic regression analysis. This result was not modified with the propensity analysis.


CONCLUSION
An excessive chronic ethanol consumption is associated with higher baseline stroke severity.
['Ducroquet|Aude|A|', 'Leys|Didier|D|', 'Al Saabi|Alaa|A|', 'Richard|Florence|F|', 'Cordonnier|Charlotte|C|', 'Girot|Marie|M|', 'Deplanque|Dominique|D|', 'Casolla|Barbara|B|', 'Allorge|Delphine|D|', 'Bordet|Régis|R|']
D000208:Acute Disease D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000428:Alcohol Drinking D015897:Comorbidity D000431:Ethanol D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007406:Interview, Psychological D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012720:Severity of Illness Index D020521:Stroke
cerebral ischemia stroke severity NIHSS score alcohol