Prognosis of Acute Ischaemic Stroke in Cancer Patients: A National Inpatient Sample Study

Background and Purpose. Whilst cancer is a risk factor for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), its impact on AIS prognosis between metastatic and non-metastatic (MC and NMC) disease is poorly understood. Furthermore, the receipt of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular thrombectomy (ET) and their outcomes is poorly researched. Methods. AIS admissions from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) were included (October 2015-December 2017). Multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for a wide range of confounders analysed the relationship between NMC and MC and AIS in-hospital outcomes (mortality, prolonged hospitalisation >4 days and routine home discharge). Interaction terms with IVT and ET were also computed to explore their impact amongst cancer patients. Results. 221,249 records representative of 1,106,045 admissions were included. There were 38,855 (3.51%) patients with co-morbid cancers: NMC=53.78% and MC=46.22%. NMC was associated with 23% increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.23 (1.07-1.42)), which was mainly driven by pancreatic and respiratory cancers. This association was entirely offset by both IVT and ET. MC was associated with 2-fold increased odds of in-hospital mortality (2.16 (1.90-2.45)), which was mainly driven by respiratory, pancreatic and colorectal cancers. This association was only offset by ET. Both NMC and MC were significantly associated with prolonged hospitalisation and decreased odds of routine discharge. Conclusions. Cancer patients are at higher odds of acute adverse outcomes after AIS and warrant robust primary prevention. IVT and ET improve these outcomes and should thus be offered routinely unless otherwise contraindicated in this group of stroke patients.