Letter to the Editor

Baseline Electrocardiographic Changes as Determinants in the Prognosis of Cerebrovascular Accidents

Authors: Sarabjeet Singh, MD, Vishwajeet Bembi, MD, V K. Goel, MD, Updesh Singh Bedi, MD, Rohit Arora, MD, FACC

Abstract

The effect of brain injury on the heart was demonstrated in experimental animals in the 1930s.1 Subsequently, several studies have investigated the effect of brain injury on the heart, but few have addressed the prognostic significance of these changes.2 This study was carried out (1) To determine if patients with stroke are more likely to have abnormal EKG at presentation (2) To determine if patients presenting with an abnormal EKG have a greater 6-month mortality.

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References

1. Oppenheimer SM. Neurogenic cardiac effects of cerebrovascular disease. Curr Opin Neurol1994;7:20–24.
 
2. Dogan A, Tunc E, Ozturk M, et al. [Comparison of electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke] Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2004;4:135–140.
 
3. Korpelainen IT, Huikuri HV, Sotaniemi KA, et al. Abnormal heart rate variability reflecting autonomic dysfunction in brainstem infarction. Acta Neurol Scand 1996;94:337–342.
 
4. Broderick JP, Phillips SJ, O'Fallon WM, et al. Relationship of cardiac disease to stroke occurrence, recurrence, and mortality. Stroke 1992;23:1250–1256.
 
5. Khechinashvili G, Asplund K. Electrocardiographic changes in patients with acute stroke: a systematic review. Cerebrovasc Dis 2002;14:67–76.