Knowledge and attitude towards stroke and prehospital delay among patients and their family members under high prehospital delay in Zhejiang, China: a cross-sectional study

Objectives
To investigate the knowledge of stroke and the attitudes towards stroke and prehospital delay among patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and their family members.

Design
This cross-sectional study was conducted through a self-designed questionnaire.

Setting
The study took place in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province, China, between July 2023 and November 2023.

Participants
A total of 521 valid questionnaires were collected from 367 patients who had an AIS and 154 family members.

Interventions
Participants provided demographic information and answered questions related to stroke knowledge, attitudes towards stroke and prehospital delay.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
The primary outcome measures included scores on stroke knowledge, attitudes towards stroke and attitudes towards prehospital delay. Secondary outcomes focused on identifying correlations and independent factors influencing prehospital delay.

Results
The average scores for patients were stroke knowledge 8.74±6.16 (range: 0–24), stroke attitude 23.52±2.73 (range: 7–35) and prehospital delay attitude 38.65±7.68 (range: 10–50). Family members scored 12.66±6.85, 23.60±2.57 and 40.02±7.45, respectively. Significant correlations were found between stroke knowledge and attitude (r=0.2262, p

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Targeted Screening of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Female Smokers: Inconsiderate Overdiagnosis or Chance for Better Health?

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) causes a substantial proportion of all deaths among middle-aged people, especially women. Because female smokers in particular have a high risk of aSAH and subarachnoid hemorrhage deaths, targeted screening of 50- to 60-year-old female smokers could be justified as a preventive action to reduce premature deaths and morbidity.METHODS:This prospective screening study has been performed at Helsinki University Hospital in the Department of Neurosurgery in 2 phases during 2020 and 2023 to 2024. To minimize recruitment bias, the Helsinki Biobank and THL Biobank were responsible for sending out preliminary invitation letters to self-caring 50- to 60-year-old women (mean, 56 years) who were known to be active smokers. We informed the potential candidates about the study and answered any questions before their decision to participate. Once written consent was provided, participants filled in a detailed questionnaire on lifestyle and health, and underwent computed tomography angiography analysis. We studied the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms among the study participants. Moreover, we assessed immediate morbidity, mortality, and costs related to screening.RESULTS:Of the 458 preliminary invitation letters, 160 potential participants initially replied. Of these, 116 returned questionnaires and written consents. Ultimately, 108 smoking women underwent computed tomography angiography imaging. Eleven unruptured intracranial aneurysms were found in 11 (10%) female smokers, 1 of which was intracavernous and extradural. Two women were operated on without complications—1 with a middle cerebral artery aneurysm and 1 with a posterior communicating artery aneurysm. Most (n=8) patients with small (

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Burden of Cardiovascular Outcomes After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in South Korea and Japan: A Binational Population-Based Cohort Study

Circulation, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Despite the significant global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, limited studies have investigated the long-term cardiovascular sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly among Asian populations. This large-scale, population-based binational cohort study with long-term follow-up aimed to investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the risk of cardiovascular events.METHODS:We used binational, large-scale, and population-based cohorts, including a Korean nationwide cohort (K-COV-N; discovery cohort; n=18 989 129) and a Japanese nationwide cohort (Japan Medical Data Center; validation cohort; n=12 218 680). Individuals aged 20 years or older were included from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022. We assessed the long-term risk of incident cardiovascular outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome was the risk of cardiovascular diseases based onInternational Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revisioncode diagnosis. After propensity score–based overlap weighting, Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular outcomes. We assessed the time attenuation effect of cardiovascular outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multiple subgroup analyses were conducted by 16 cardiovascular outcomes, COVID-19 severity, vaccination, and SARS-CoV-2 strain.RESULTS:In the overlap-weighted discovery cohort, 7 960 357 individuals were included (mean age, 48.52 years [SD, 9.33]; men, 4 283 878 [53.82%]). SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a long-term increased risk of overall cardiovascular outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.60–1.64]), particularly ischemic heart disease (1.81 [95% CI, 1.77–1.84]), heart failure (1.79 [95% CI, 1.73–1.85]), cerebrovascular disorders (1.65 [95% CI, 1.60–1.69]), major adverse cardiovascular events (1.65 [95% CI, 1.60–1.70]), inflammatory heart diseases (1.53 [95% CI, 1.31–1.80]), dysrhythmia (1.44 [95% CI, 1.42–1.46]), and thrombotic disorders (1.42 [95% CI, 1.35–1.48]). The increased risk persisted up to 18 months, with the highest association observed for 1 to 6 months after infection. The risk of cardiovascular diseases was pronounced with COVID-19 severity; however, it decreased with the administration of complete vaccination and subsequent booster doses. A similar risk of cardiovascular outcomes existed across every SARS-CoV-2 era (pre-delta, delta, and omicron). Similar patterns were observed in the validation cohort. The absolute risk of cardiovascular disease events after SARS-CoV-2 infection remained remarkably low (2.12% versus 1.31% in the noninfected population), particularly stroke (0.24% versus 0.13%) and ischemic heart disease (0.73% versus 0.39%).CONCLUSIONS:This binational study observed associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and cardiovascular events during extended follow-up across viral eras. Complete vaccination was linked to lower cardiovascular events. However, the absolute risk of cardiovascular disease events after SARS-CoV-2 infection remained remarkably low, particularly for stroke and ischemic heart disease. Although these findings suggest ongoing vigilance and preventive measures remain crucial, they should be interpreted within the context of these low absolute risks when considering long-term cardiovascular complications.

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SEW2871 Attenuates Blood-Brain Barrier Damage and Neuropathological Outcomes Related to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of cerebral small vessel disease. This study assessed SEW2871, a selective agonist of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1, as a potential novel therapy for small vessel disease by targeting BBB damage using a rat model of small vessel disease.METHODS:Twelve-week male and female spontaneously hypertensive rat stroke-prones were subjected to unilateral carotid artery occlusion (UCAO) and Japanese permissive diet (JPD). Three doses of SEW2871 (0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg, delivered every other day up to 5 weeks) were tested. Dynamic body weight, oxygen saturation, and SEW2871 plasma concentration were evaluated. BBB permeability, white and gray matter lesions (white matter lesions and gray matter lesions), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were assessed with preclinical magnetic resonance imaging at 2 and 5 weeks after UCAO/JPD onset. Cognitive outcomes were evaluated using Morris Water Maze during week 5 of UCAO/JPD.RESULTS:We found that SEW2871 delayed the occurrence of UCAO/JPD-induced chronic hypoxic hypoperfusion in the spontaneously hypertensive rat stroke-prones. Magnetic resonance imaging showed increased BBB permeability, white matter lesions and gray matter lesions, and decreased CBF at 2 and 5 weeks after UCAO/JPD onset. T2-weighted and fractional anisotropy magnetic resonance imaging showed that all doses of SEW2871 demonstrated a protective effect on white matter lesions and gray matter lesions with the most significant improvements in the 1.0 mg/kg group. Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and arterial spin labeling maps showed significantly reduced BBB leakage and improved CBF in 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg groups. Immunohistochemical analysis for serum IgG extravasation and microglia/macrophage activation in rat brains verified the protective effects of SEW2871 on BBB leakage and neuroinflammation. Morris Water Maze test revealed a significant improvement in spatial memory in 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg groups compared with the vehicle animals.CONCLUSIONS:Long-term treatment with SEW2871 mitigated BBB leakage and brain injury, improved CBF and cognitive impairment in the spontaneously hypertensive rat stroke-prone model of small vessel disease. SEW2871 is effective at all doses, while the 1.0 mg/kg dose demonstrated exceptional protection against the neuropathological cascades associated with small vessel disease.

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Social support interventions for caregivers of older adults with dementia: a scoping review

Objectives
To identify and assess the social support interventions provided to caregivers of older adults with dementia. By synthesising the findings, it seeks to provide insights into effective strategies that can enhance caregivers’ support.

Design
A scoping review.

Data sources
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was strictly followed in this study. Searches were systematically conducted across five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL) from their inception up to February 2025.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies
We included original intervention studies published in English that examined social support interventions for caregivers of older adults with dementia, focusing on outcomes reporting social support.

Data extraction and synthesis
Data extraction was conducted using a standardised Microsoft Excel chart based on Arksey and O’Malley’s method. Two reviewers independently collected information on study characteristics (authors, country, publication year, design, sample size, assessment tools, interventions and outcomes). Disagreements were resolved by a third independent reviewer.

Results
A total of 31 studies were selected for this review, revealing six distinct categories of social support interventions for caregivers of older adults with dementia. These categories included peer support (n=7), counselling group intervention (n=2), health education (n=2), mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention (n=1), individual therapy (n=1) and multicomponent interventions (n=18). The findings indicate that these interventions significantly enhanced the social support available to caregivers, leading to positive outcomes such as reduced caregivers burden, anxiety, depression and improved coping skills.

Conclusion
This review underscores the variety of interventions designed to enhance social support for caregivers of older adults with dementia. The findings provide valuable insights for caregivers, administrators and other stakeholders, emphasising the critical need to adopt and promote effective social support strategies for this population.

Trial registration details
A review protocol was registered on the OSF(Open Science Framework) registries, with the following registration doi: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/D9C53.

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Improvement of rheolytic thrombectomy for acute deep vein thrombosis of the whole lower limb by primary popliteal vein thrombosis clearance: protocol for a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial (the Reformation study)

Introduction
Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT) can be a useful treatment for restoring vein patency quickly, especially for extensive acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, previous evidence failed to validate the effectiveness of PMT in reducing the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). To address this controversy, the reformation study aims to improve rheolytic thrombectomy for acute DVT of the lower limb through primary popliteal vein thrombosis clearance.

Method and analysis
Reformation is a prospective randomised multicentre trial. It has 160 patients in two groups: the modified access group (80 patients) and the traditional access group (80 patients). The purpose of this study is to assess whether the modified access approach for removing inflow thrombus in a one-stage procedure is more effective in enhancing the success rate of the procedure and reducing the incidence of PTS during a 24-month follow-up period, for patients with acute whole limb DVT.

Ethics and dissemination
The reformation study has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov. The study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board and Human Research Ethics Committee of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (approved number: KY2021-067-A). The results will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number
NCT05286710.

Protocol version and date
V.1.2, 20 August 2022.

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Associations between patient characteristics and five-year trajectories of anticholinergic drug burden in older adults in German primary care: a prospective observational cohort study

Objectives
To investigate the change in anticholinergic burden over a 5 year period in relation to the health characteristics of older adults.

Study design
Using data from the MultiCare Cohort Study (2008–2013), a prospective observational cohort study based on patient data from 158 general practices

Setting
Primary care in Germany.

Participants
3189 multimorbid adults aged 65 to 85 years

Primary and secondary outcome measures
The primary outcome was the change in the anticholinergic burden score (ACB) over a 5 year period. The ACB was defined as the dependent variable and was calculated by including all anticholinergic drugs prescribed to participants during the study period. Independent variables included age, sex, education (according to CASMIN), depressiveness (GDS), cognitive function (LDST), quality of life (EQ5D-3L) and the number of diseases weighted by severity. We performed multilevel mixed-effects multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results
A total of 7068 observations were analysed during three follow-ups. The mean age of the participants was 74.4±5.2 years and 59.3% were female. The mean ACB score was 1.5±1.7 at baseline and did not change significantly over time. In contrast, a higher severity-weighted number of diseases (coefficient: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.05/0.10, p

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Severe Maternal Morbidity and Subsequent Birth—Reply

In Reply In response to the Letter by Ms Chen and colleagues about our recent study, we concur that severe maternal morbidity conditions can arise from both preexisting maternal conditions (eg, cardiac complications) and pregnancy-induced conditions (eg, severe sepsis). Addressing preexisting conditions through targeted preconception and antenatal care, such as prescribing low-dose aspirin to reduce severe preeclampsia, is essential. Early identification of high-risk individuals (eg, women with a history of psychiatric disorders) could potentially improve maternal outcomes. Furthermore, as Chen and colleagues highlight, the effect of interpregnancy interval warrants attention, given that long-term clinical follow-up and reproductive counseling may alleviate the risk of severe maternal morbidity in subsequent pregnancies.

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Risk-based innovations in cancer screening and diagnosis: a discrete choice experiment to explore priorities of the UK public

Objective
To understand the importance and potential impact on uptake of different attributes of risk-based innovations in the context of risk-stratified healthcare for cancer screening and symptomatic diagnosis.

Design
The online survey comprised a discrete choice experiment (DCE) in which participants chose between two risk assessment options or to opt out of risk stratification. There were six attributes: test method, type (genetic or non-genetic), location, frequency, sensitivity and specificity. Participants were randomly allocated to consider the choice in an asymptomatic or symptomatic context.

Setting
Members of the public in the UK.

Participants
1202 participants completed the DCE.

Outcome measures
Conditional logistic regression and latent class analysis informed modelling of predicted preferences for a range of innovations with different features.

Results
Overall, participants preferred risk assessments over opting out and prioritised sensitivity, with test method and specificity also important. Genetic and non-invasive tests were favoured. With sensitivity and specificity of 80% or better, participants would be more likely to take up a risk assessment than not. Comparing the asymptomatic and symptomatic contexts, 65% and 73% of participants would be very likely to participate regardless of the innovation used, and 29% and 13% of participants might participate depending on the method, sensitivity and specificity. A minority showed strong dislike of risk-based innovations, particularly within screening.

Conclusions
There are high levels of public support for risk-based innovations within risk-stratified cancer healthcare, especially for referral decision-making and using genetic and non-invasive tests. Optimising risk-based innovations is needed to engage those whose participation is contingent on test methods and performance metrics.

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Investigating mood and cognition in people with multiple sclerosis: a prospective cross-sectional study protocol

Introduction
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurological disorder that affects one million people in the USA. Up to 50% of patients with MS experience depression, yet the mechanisms of depression in MS remain underinvestigated. MS is characterised by white matter lesions, suggesting that brain network disruption may underlie depression symptoms. Studies of medically healthy participants with depression have described associations between white matter variability and depressive symptoms, but frequently exclude participants with medical comorbidities and thus cannot be extrapolated to people with intracranial diseases. The purpose of this current study is to investigate how brain network disruption underlies depression by learning from the example of MS.

Methods and analysis
We will obtain structured clinical and cognitive assessments from 250 participants with MS and prospectively evaluate white matter disease burden as a predictor of depressive symptoms. White matter lesion burden will be quantified by identifying streamlines within white matter fascicles that intersect lesions along any portion of their trajectory, classifying these streamlines as injured, and calculating the total volume of injured streamlines to serve as the metric of disease burden.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethics approval was obtained from The University of Pennsylvania Institutional Review Board (protocol #853883). The results of this study will be presented at scientific meetings and conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

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Longitudinal study of adolescent stress, critical consciousness and resilience trajectories in the context of structural racism: the RISE Baltimore study protocol

Introduction
Systemic racism exposes Black and Latinx adolescents to a range of traumatic stressors that increase the risk for long-term emotional and behavioural health (EBH) problems. Researchers have theorised that critical consciousness (CC)—awareness of societal inequities and engagement in action to promote social justice—may serve as a protective factor that promotes youth well-being. There are few rigorous longitudinal research studies, however, that examine the development of CC among adolescents, the association over time of CC with EBH and the potential of CC to protect against harmful effects of race-related stress. This longitudinal study, Resilience in a Stressful Era (RISE), addresses these gaps using a mixed methods approach with Black, Latinx and White adolescents in Baltimore.

Methods and analysis
We plan to enrol up to 650 Black, Latinx and White adolescents ages 14–19 who reside in Baltimore, Maryland. The recruitment will include outreach through youth-serving organisations, community events, youth networks, social media, snowball sampling and re-contacting adolescents who participated in a prior study (R01HD090022; PI: Mendelson). Participants will complete online questionnaires assessing exposure to pandemic- and race-related stress, CC and EBH twice per year over 4 years as they transition into early adulthood. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach, in-depth interviews exploring the development and impact of CC will be conducted with a subset of participants selected based on their CC scores and, separately, their caregivers. A Youth Advisory Board comprised of adolescents who are representative of our target study population will be developed to provide input on the study and its implementation. Growth mixture modelling and latent variable modelling will be used to analyse quantitative data. Themes identified through qualitative analyses will expand the understanding of quantitative findings.

Ethics and dissemination
All study procedures were approved by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institutional Review Board. Findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at academic conferences. We will also communicate research findings with study participants and disseminate findings to the Baltimore community, such as developing briefs for the Baltimore City Health Department and/or hosting a town hall meeting for Baltimore families.

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Postnatal instead of normally-timed cervical screening (PINCS-1): a protocol for a feasibility study of paired-sample cervical screening and urine self-sampling at 6 weeks and 12 weeks postnatal in the UK

Introduction
Cervical screening rates in the UK are falling, limiting our ability to prevent cervical cancer. Peak incidence of cervical cancer coincides with average age of childbirth, and women with young children are less likely to be screened. Current UK guidelines advise waiting 12 weeks after delivery to perform cervical screening, but this recommendation is not based on evidence from the era of liquid-based cytology or high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. New mums suggested offering cervical screening at 6 weeks postdelivery, in conjunction with the postnatal check-up with the general practice team in primary care. This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a paired-sample study design for cervical screening at 6 weeks and 12 weeks postnatal.

Methods and analysis
A study of 100 participants will be performed to assess feasibility and acceptability of cervical screening at both 6 weeks and 12 weeks postnatal, with urine self-sampling using a Colli-pee collection device at each time point. This will inform whether women are prepared to undergo cervical screening at 6 weeks postnatal and the feasibility of a future pair-wise diagnostic test accuracy (of HPV and abnormal cervical cytology) study or whether alternative study designs are needed. Participants must be aged 24.5–64 years old and eligible for the National Health Service Cervical Screening Programme (NHS CSP). At each appointment, participants will complete a questionnaire about their experience and thoughts regarding screening. Substudies ask participants who withdraw or decline to participate their reasons, to identify barriers. The study will be closed for recruitment once 100 participants have completed the 6-week screen in Postnatal Instead of Normally-Timed Cervical Screening (PINCS-1) or if recruitment is poor and 50% not recruited by 6 months, indicating that a paired-sample design is not feasible.

Ethics and dissemination
Ethical approval for PINCS-1 was given by the Stanmore Research Ethics Committee. The results, including participant feedback at each stage, built into the trial design, will inform the design of large studies to determine accuracy and clinical impact of cervical screening at 6 weeks postnatal, identifying whether giving choice (eg, from timing of appointments and/or offering self-sampling) will improve screening uptake. Data will inform the sample size needed for future studies to have adequate power. Results will also inform future NHS CSP management. Results will be shared via scientific publication and via conventional and social media channels accessed by young women.

Trial registration number
ISRCTN10071810.

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Interventional effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on upper limb function in patients who had a stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives
To systematically evaluate the intervention effect of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (m-CIMT) on upper limb function in patients who had a stroke.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the intervention effect of m-CIMT on upper limb function in patients who had a stroke, with the search conducted up until 23 May 2024.

Eligibility criteria
We included only RCTs in which patients who had a stroke performed m-CIMT or m-CIMT in addition to the control group, and the outcome was upper limb function.

Data extraction and synthesis
Data extraction and synthesis used the reporting checklist for systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The risk of bias and methodological quality of included studies were evaluated by two independent investigators under the guidance of Cochrane risk of bias. Effect sizes were pooled, funnel plots were created and subgroup analyses were conducted using Stata V.17.0. If I² >50%, a random-effects model was applied; otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots and Egger’s test. In the presence of publication bias, a trim-and-fill method was employed for further examination. The quality of evidence was evaluated using GRADEpro.

Results
A total of 16 studies including 612 patients were included. Rehabilitation outcomes were assessed using the Fugl–Meyer Assessment (I²=90.34%), Motor Activity Log—Quality of Movement (I²=36.02%), Motor Activity Log—Amount of Use (I²=65.76%), Action Research Arm Test (I²=62.66%) and the Wolf Motor Function Test (I²=36.78%). Low-level evidence suggests that m-CIMT improves upper limb function in patients who had a stroke (all p2 months’ (p=0.005). Intervention periods of ‘2–4 weeks’ (p=0.008) and ‘5–12 weeks’ (p

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Correlation between postprandial hypotension and post-induction hypotension in the elderly: a protocol for a prospective cohort study

Introduction
Post-induction hypotension (PIH) is particularly common in elderly patients undergoing general anaesthesia and is associated with severe postoperative complications. Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is a potential risk factor for significant haemodynamic fluctuations during general anaesthesia in elderly patients. Tools to identify ANS are currently lacking in perioperative clinical practice. Postprandial hypotension (PPH) is closely linked to ANS dysfunction and is also common among elderly individuals. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between PPH and PIH in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. By examining this correlation, we hope to better understand the factors contributing to PIH and explore the potential role of PPH in predicting PIH.

Methods and analysis
This is a prospective observational cohort study. 120 elderly Chinese patients aged ≥65 years and scheduled to undergo non-cardiac surgery under general anaesthesia at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) will be included. PPH assessments will include baseline pre-prandial records and blood pressure measurements immediately after meal completion, followed by every 5 min for 120 min. To evaluate PIH, blood pressure will be monitored from the patients’ entry into the operating room until 20 min after anaesthesia induction or the initiation of surgery. PIH is defined as systolic blood pressure of

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Perioperative Stroke: Mechanisms, Risk Stratification, and Management

Stroke, Ahead of Print. Perioperative stroke, defined as a cerebrovascular event occurring during surgery or within 30 days postoperatively, remains a devastating complication associated with substantial morbidity, disability, mortality, and increased healthcare utilization. Although overall incidence is relatively low—up to 1% in most surgical populations—it is significantly elevated in cardiac, major vascular, and neurosurgical procedures, often exceeding 5%. The rising prevalence of perioperative stroke, primarily driven by an aging surgical population burdened by multiple chronic vascular conditions and increasingly eligible for high-risk surgical interventions, underscores the urgency of optimizing preventive and management strategies. This review synthesizes insights into patient- and procedure-related risk factors, highlighting the intricate interplay of embolic, thrombotic, and hypoperfusion mechanisms underpinning perioperative ischemic strokes. Key patient-specific risks include advanced age, recent cerebrovascular events, atrial fibrillation, carotid stenosis, and chronic cardiovascular comorbidities. Procedural factors, such as the type and complexity of surgery, intraoperative hypotension, and vascular manipulations, further modulate stroke risk. Emphasizing an evidence-based approach to risk mitigation, this review examines preoperative risk stratification, intraoperative techniques designed to minimize cerebral embolization and preserve adequate perfusion, and structured postoperative protocols aimed at rapid stroke detection. Acute management complexities are also discussed, with careful consideration of intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in the postoperative setting. Finally, gaps in current guidelines and promising areas for future research are identified, advocating a multidisciplinary approach involving neurology, surgery, anesthesiology, and allied specialties to enhance patient outcomes and reduce the perioperative stroke burden.

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