Table 3.
Baseline characteristics of populations with predicted acute ischemic stroke (strict algorithm)
| Chart reviews | Million Veteran Program | CVD-risk cohort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Predicted strokes (n)/population size (n) | 60/199 | 3,423/323,122 | 80,508/2,114,458 |
| Age (years), mean ± SD | 59.0±11.4 | 56.4±9.7 | 64.8±11 |
| <30 years | 0 | 25 (0.7%) | 147 (0.2%) |
| 30–49.99 years | 5 (9.8%) | 694 (20.5%) | 5,741 (8.2%) |
| 50–59.99 years | 23 (45.1%) | 1,570 (46.5%) | 19,305 (27.4%) |
| 60–69.99 years | 7 (13.7%) | 776 (23%) | 19,453 (27.7%) |
| >70 years | 16 (31.4%) | 313 (9.3%) | 25,687 (36.5%) |
| Men | 51 (100%) | 3,241 (97.5%) | 67,583 (98.1%) |
| Race | |||
| White | 30 (63.8%) | 2,433 (75.4%) | 53,902 (81.3%) |
| American Indian/Alaska native | 0 | 17 (0.5%) | 370 (0.6%) |
| Asian | 0 | 21 (0.7%) | 444 (0.7%) |
| Black/African-American | 17 (36.2%) | 735 (22.8%) | 10,785 (16.3%) |
| Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 0 | 21 (0.7%) | 824 (1.2%) |
| Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
| Smoking, current or past | 38 (90.5%) | 1,329 (41.4%) | 66,227 (82.3%) |
| Body-mass index (kg/m2) | 28.8±6.4 | 30±5.5 | 28.8±5.4 |
| Hypertension (%) | 49 (81.7%) | 2,667 (77.9%) | 61,084 (75.9%) |
| SBP (mmHg) | 143±27.2 | 138.9±23 | 139.8±22.8 |
| DBP (mmHg) | 79.7±15.1 | 79.6±13.6 | 76.1±13 |
| Hyperlipidemia (%) | 31 (51.7%) | 2,391 (69.9%) | 48,837 (60.7%) |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 168.8±44.2 | 170.7±42.8 | 173.9±43.4 |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 43±14.8 | 41.7±12.2 | 42.4±12.9 |
| LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 98.8±33.9 | 99.4±37.4 | 101.4±36 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 146.2±131.5 | 160.1±129.2 | 157.9±124.2 |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 25 (41.7%) | 1,233 (36%) | 27,628 (34.3%) |
| HbA1c (mmol/mol) | 6.8±1.7 | 6.7±1.6 | 6.8±1.5 |
| eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 64.9±27 | 74.4±20.5 | 67.8±20.7 |
| Medication | |||
| *Aspirin | 42 (70%) | 1,289 (37.7%) | 26,035 (32.3%) |
| Clopidogrel | 28 (46.7%) | 843 (24.6%) | 20,230 (25.1%) |
| tPA: alteplase or reteplase | 2 (3.3%) | 6 (0.2%) | 75 (0.1%) |
| Warfarin | 12 (20%) | 558 (16.3%) | 12,186 (15.1%) |
| Statins | 42 (70%) | 2,458 (71.8%) | 50,712 (63%) |
| β-Blockers | 33 (55%) | 1,546 (45.2%) | 35,017 (43.5%) |
| ACE inhibitors/ARBs | 34 (56.7%) | 1,600 (46.7%) | 37,514 (46.6%) |
| Comorbid conditions | |||
| Atrial fibrillation | 8 (13.3%) | 406 (11.9%) | 10,336 (12.8%) |
| COPD | 15 (25%) | 420 (12.3%) | 12,599 (15.6%) |
| Coronary heart disease | 30 (50%) | 1,101 (32.2%) | 29,604 (36.8%) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 10 (16.7%) | 263 (7.7%) | 7,146 (8.9%) |
| Congestive heart failure | 15 (25%) | 224 (6.5%) | 6,620 (8.2%) |
| Chronic kidney disease | 7 (11.7%) | 299 (8.7%) | 6,164 (7.7%) |
| Chronic liver disease | 0 | 51 (1.5%) | 678 (0.8%) |
| Deep-vein thrombosis | 0 | 19 (0.6%) | 209 (0.3%) |
| Pulmonary embolism | 1 (1.7%) | 31 (0.9%) | 536 (0.7%) |
Notes: Ages computed at a baseline year of 2002. Descriptive statistics for continuous variables computed using first lab values within a year following the first stroke event. Dichotomous variables, such as medications, are positive if any records found within a year of first stroke event.
Aspirin is taken by many patients as an over the counter and/or non-VA medication instead of a prescription, and thus the reported percentage in this table is an underestimation of aspirin use.
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; ARBs, angiotensin-receptor blockers; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; SBP, systolic blood pressure; tPA, tissue plasminogen activator.