Gender Distribution, Comorbidity Profiles, and Short-Term Autonomic Recovery Patterns in Acute Ischemic Stroke: An Indian Cohort Study
Abstract
Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is associated with alterations in cardiovascular autonomic regulation and is frequently accompanied by a substantial burden of vascular and metabolic comorbidities. This study evaluated the gender distribution, comorbidity profile, and short-term changes in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) among patients with AIS during hospitalization. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 64 adults with AIS admitted to a tertiary care center in Northern India over a 12-month period. Patients aged ≤75 years with clinically and radiologically confirmed AIS and a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 5–15 were enrolled using purposive sampling. Demographic characteristics and comorbidities were recorded at admission. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed within 24 hours of admission and repeated at discharge. Mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were compared using paired-samples t-tests. Results: Of the 64 participants, 46 (71.9%) were male and 18 (28.1%) were female. Isolated hypertension was present in 15 (23.4%) participants, isolated diabetes mellitus in 9 (14.1%), and concomitant hypertension and diabetes mellitus in 6 (9.4%). Mean 24-hour SBP decreased significantly from 137.19 ± 9.10 mmHg at admission to 132.50 ± 8.13 mmHg at discharge (p < 0.001). Similarly, mean 24-hour DBP decreased from 71.56 ± 5.94 mmHg to 67.50 ± 5.51 mmHg (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This Northern Indian AIS cohort demonstrated a predominance of male patients and a substantial burden of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Significant reductions in 24-hour SBP and DBP were observed between admission and discharge. These findings indicate short-term changes in ambulatory blood pressure during hospitalization and support further investigation of cardiovascular autonomic and blood pressure patterns following AIS. Key words: Acute Ischemic Stroke; Autonomic Recovery; Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring; Blood Pressure; Hypertension; Diabetes Mellitus; Autonomic Nervous System