Stroke risk higher after brain injury
2 August 2011
People who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at a 10-fold increased risk of stroke within the first 3 months after their injury, a large study has shown.
While this risk decreases over time, the study of almost 93,000 people showed it was still significant one year after a TBI (more than fourfold) and 5 years after a TBI (more than twofold), researchers said in the journal Stroke (2011; online 28 July).
The risk of bleeding into the brain lining or into the brain (subarachnoid haemorrhage or intracerebral haemorrhage) was also more noticeable among those with a TBI than those unaffected by a TBI.
The researchers, from Taiwan, said the results of this prospective population study – the first of its kind – had important clinical implications.
"More intensive medical monitoring, support and intervention are required following a TBI, especially during the first few months or years, as the risk of stroke decreases gradually after TBI," they said.
"In an acute stroke situation, prompt recognition of symptoms and timely medical attention within the first hours of onset are essential. Favourable outcomes were identified among patients who began appropriate treatment within 3 hours of stroke symptom onset."
The researchers added that the treating medical team should also be aware of the need for rapid neuro-imaging examination for suspected stroke patients, particularly those with a history of TBI.
Possible reasons for the study findings included that the TBI caused a clot to form at the site of the injury and in other parts of the head, or that it caused clots to loosen from a blood vessel with atherosclerosis (fatty deposits).
Last Reviewed: 02 August 2011
- 1. Chen YH, Kang JH, Lin HC. Patients With traumatic brain injury: population-based study suggests increased risk of stroke. Stroke 2011 Jul 28. [Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.111.620112. http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2011/07/28/STROKEAHA.111.620112.abstract (accessed Aug 2011).
