Research Explores Infections as Potential Stroke Triggers

Understanding Stroke Types

A stroke occurs when the brain does not receive adequate blood and oxygen. The most prevalent form is the ischemic stroke, which results from narrowed or blocked arteries. Other stroke types include intracerebral hemorrhage, caused by a ruptured blood vessel within the brain, and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which involves bleeding in the brain’s inner lining.

Investigating the Infection-Stroke Link

Emerging research indicates a possible correlation between infections and the risk of stroke, though this relationship has not been extensively explored. A recent study published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Stroke, aimed to examine this connection further.

Study Methodology

The authors analyzed data from the New York State Inpatient Databases and Emergency Department Databases, covering the period from 2006 to 2013. They utilized health records to identify various infections, including skin, urinary tract, septicemia (blood infection), abdominal, and respiratory infections. They also categorized the strokes into subtypes: ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Key Findings

The study revealed a significant association between all infection types and an increased risk of ischemic strokes, with urinary tract infections posing the highest risk. For intracerebral hemorrhage, urinary tract infections, septicemia, and respiratory infections were linked to heightened risk. Conversely, subarachnoid hemorrhage risk was only associated with respiratory infections.

Implications and Future Research

The findings provide substantial evidence of a strong connection between infections and stroke risk. However, the authors emphasize the need for further research involving larger patient groups to confirm these results and deepen the understanding of the infection-stroke relationship. Such insights could inform preventative strategies for stroke in patients suffering from infections.

Author Information

Written by Haisam Shah, BSc
Reference: Sebastian, S., Stein, L. K., & Dhamoon, M. S. (2019). Infection as a Stroke Trigger – Associations Between Different Organ System Infection Admissions and Stroke Subtype. Stroke.