Antecedent Aspirin Use Is Associated with Less Severe Symptoms on Admission for Ischemic Stroke

Background Aspirin is known to reduce stroke risk; however, its role in reducing severity of ischemic syndrome is not clear. We sought to investigate the relationship between antecedent aspirin use and stroke severity in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected database of consecutive AIS patients presenting to our center. Clinical characteristics (including antecedent aspirin use), imaging findings, and laboratory data were assessed in association with presenting stroke severity, as measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Logistic regression models were used to determine univariate and multivariate predictors of baseline NIHSS. Results Of the 610 AIS patients with admission brain magnetic resonance imaging available for volumetric analysis of acute infarct size, 241 (39.5%) used aspirin prior to stroke onset. Antecedent aspirin use ( P  = .0005), history of atrial fibrillation ( P P P  = .041), admission glucose level ( P  = .0027), and stroke subtype ( P P P P P  = .038), and glucose level ( P  = .0095) remained independent predictors of NIHSS in multivariable analysis. Conclusions Antecedent aspirin use was independently associated with milder presenting stroke severity, even after accounting for acute infarct volume. While the underlying biology of this apparent protective relationship requires further study, patients at high risk of stroke may benefit from routine aspirin use.