Brain morphometry and short-term stroke outcome

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the research was to investigate associations between brain morphometric changes and short-term stroke outcome. Materials and Methods: In this study, 294 patients with acute stroke were enrolled. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) assessment as well as clinical-neurological and cognitive testing. Results: In the multivariable regression analysis, bicaudate index (OR = 1.3; 95 % CI 1.1 - 1.7, p=0.018) and ventricular index (OR = 0.7; CI 0.5 - 0.9, p=0.005) were associated with an unfavourable short-term stroke outcome. The univariable regression analysis revealed significant associations between mini-mental state examination scale score (MMSE) and width of the longitudinal cerebral fissure in the anterior part of the frontal lobes (FI) (b -0.8, 95% CI -1.6 – -0.1, p=0.037) as well as width of the cerebral fissure in the area of the skull vault (SW) (b -0.9, 95% CI -1.8 – -0.1, p=0.023). In the multivariable regression model bicaudate index was associated with MMSE score (b coefficient (b) = -1.2; 95 % CI -2.1 – -0.3, p = 0.011). Conclusions: our results show that altered brain morphometric indices are associated with unfavourable short-term stroke outcome and cognitive decline.