Characteristic variables of acute ischemic stroke categorized according to body mass index classifications

BACKGROUNND We investigated the characteristic variables of acute ischemic stroke categorized according to body mass index (BMI). METHODS From a registry of 1676 consecutive acute ischemic stroke cases, 965 cases (622 men and 434 women; mean age 71.53 ± 12.42 years) were selected based on eligibility criteria. These participants were divided into four cohorts according to BMI classifications: BMI < 18 (underweight), 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 (normal weight), 25 ≤ BMI < 30 (overweight), and BMI ≥ 30 (obese). To avoid bias, propensity score analyses were performed; the confounding variables of sex and age were adjusted. RESULTS The underweight cohort (n = 82) had an older, largely female population. The overweight (n = 212) and obese cohorts (n = 48) had younger populations. The analyses revealed no significant differences in neurological outcomes among the four cohorts. Furthermore, higher risks of hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were associated with the higher BMI cohorts in participants with acute ischemic stroke. Findings revealed higher rates of usage of antidiabetic and antidyslipidemic medications in the overweight cohort (p = 0.007, p = 0.003; respectively) and raised values of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin in the obese cohort (p = 0.044, p = 0.019, p < 0.001; respectively) than in the normal weight cohort. By contrast, the lower BMI cohort (underweight) did not have hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSIONS The importance of focusing on the management of dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia for acute ischemic stroke in patients who are overweight or obese has been highlighted. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement The authors state that they have no sources of funding. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Komaki City Hospital (approval number: 231003). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data underlying the results are available as part of the article and no additional source data are required, and the raw data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Joe Senda, upon reasonable request.