[Annual survival rates in lacunar stroke in relation to neurological status, risk factors and applied anti-aggregation treatment].

Lacunar stroke accounts for 20-25% of all ischaemic strokes. It is believed that the prognosis in this stroke is relatively good, with annual mortality being 9.8% to 11.3%. In the analysis of the Warsaw Stroke Register this mortality was much higher--about 25%. The purpose of the present study was to assess the factors increasing the probability of death in lacunar stroke based on a one-year follow-up of 113 patients (67 males and 48 females), mean age 67.3 +/- 11.2 treated at the II Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. The total one-year mortality was 23%. In the group of patients dying in that year hypertension was found in 88% and diabetes in 27%, while in the surviving group these diseases were found in 72% and 18% respectively. The differences between groups were not significant. Considering the effect of other risk factors (age, fitness status assessed with modified Barthel index) it was demonstrated that the risk of death increased with increasing age (relative risk 1.03, 95% CI 1.001-1.05) and with the degree of dependence on the help of others, Barthel index < 60 (RR = 1.49.95%, CI 1.24-1.66). In the analysis of the effect of antiaggregation treatment the mortality was lower in aspirin-treated patients (300 mg daily) with cumulated annual survival rate 79.8 as compared to the not treated patients in whom it was 58.2. The difference was not significant, probably due to small number of cases.