Abstract 16311: Echocardiographic Findings Predict Long-Term Mortality in Stroke Population

Introduction: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) has become a routine part of management for acute stroke to assess for cardiac sources of emboli. Many studies have illustrated a low diagnostic yield for sources of emboli on TTE, ranging from 3-10%. Little has been reported about the prognostic importance of TTE findings performed for evaluation of acute stroke. Methods: Brain imaging and TTE reports were reviewed for 3,920 consecutive patients presenting to an urban medical center with acute stroke between 1/1/01 and 9/30/07. Data was collected on baseline demographics, subtypes of stroke, abnormal TTE findings, and 10-year rates of readmission for stroke and mortality. Brain imaging showed evidence of recent or old infarction in 2,501. Results: Study patients were 67±15 years, 60% female, 75% minorities and had hypertension (75%), diabetes (41%), CKD (27%) and atrial fibrillation (18%). On TTE, a cardiac source (mass, thrombus or vegetation) was identified in only 14 cases (0.6%), whereas a clinically significant abnormality (EF Conclusions: Although TTE performed for ischemic stroke had minimal yield for identifying the source of embolization, clinically important abnormalities were common in this population. TTE abnormalities were independently associated with increased long-term mortality.