The impact of anemia on the course and short-term prognosis in patients with first ever ischemic stroke

Abstract Background Anemia is the risk factor for cerebrovascular events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among patients with first-ever stroke and its impact on neurological state in the acute phase of the disease and the degree of disability in short-term follow-up. Patients and methods The prospective study included 107 patients aged 72.81 ± 11.12 with the first-ever stroke. Each patient underwent CT of the head and blood tests, including Hb concentration on the first day of hospitalization. We have analyzed the neurological state on the first day of stroke by NIHSS and the functional status on the 14th day after the onset of stroke by mRankin scale in patients with and without anemia. Patients with anemia were additionally divided according to Hb level (less or over 11 g/dl). Results Patients with Hb ≤ 11 g/dl significantly more often achieved a score of 4–5 points on mRankin scale on the 14th day of stroke compared to patients with anemia and Hb > 11 g/dl. Independent predictors of a worse functional status on the 14th day of stroke in patients with anemia include the neurological state on the 1st day and the hemispheric location of stroke; an independent predictor of death was the neurological state on the 1st day of onset. Conclusion Mild anemia did not influence significantly the neurological condition in acute phase of stroke but worsened the functional status in subacute phase of stroke. The neurological state on the first day of stroke and the hemispheric location of cerebral ischemia are independent factors of poor prognosis in patients with anemia in short-term follow-up.