Abstract W P319: Isolated National Institute of Health Stroke Scale Subscore Worsening is Predictive of Poor Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients

Background and Objective: Neurological deterioration is common and contributes to poor outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this study is to determine if National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) subscore changes, in the absence of an increase in total NIHSS score, are associated with poor outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on patients with AIS who presented to our center (07/08-12/10). Two-point ND was defined as ≥2-point worsening on the total NIHSS within 24 hours of admission. NIHSS subscore neurologic deterioration (sND) was defined as a ≥1-point worsening on one or more individual NIHSS item, in the absence of 2-point ND, within 24 hours of admission. Poor functional outcome at the time of discharge (discharge mRS >2) was the primary outcome measure and was compared among patients who experienced sND, those who experienced 2-point ND, and patients with no worsening. Individual NIHSS worsening of particular items on the scale were analyzed. Results: A t...