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Elevated Calcium after Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts Severity and Prognosis

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a correlation between serum calcium levels and clinical severity or functional outcome at discharge in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke. Data from 339 patients admitted to our hospital between July 2020 and July 2021 were analyzed. Baseline demographic and clinical information was collected within 24 h of admission, including serum calcium levels, stroke severity (measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score), and lesion volumes. The modified Rankin Scale [mRS] assessed functional outcomes at discharge. Our analysis showed that the median age of patients included in the study was 65 years (interquartile range [IQR], 60–70), and 60.8% were men. We found a positive correlation between serum calcium levels and stroke severity (r[spearman] = 0.266, P < 0.001), with calcium levels increasing as stroke severity increased. In a subgroup of 188 patients with available MRI data, serum calcium concentrations positively correlated with infarct size. Furthermore, in multivariate analysis, a calcium serum level in the highest quartile was associated with a higher risk of unfavorable outcome (odds ratios [OR] = 3.27; 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.91–5.59; P < 0.001). In conclusion, our study indicates that higher calcium serum levels are associated with stroke severity and early neurologic outcome after acute ischemic stroke, indicating that calcium may serve as a prognostic biomarker for stroke in Chinese patients.

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Acknowledgements

All authors have contributed significantly and agreed with the content of the manuscript. We are grateful to all the people who participated in our study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Weifang People’s Hospital, No.151 Guangwen Street, Weifang, Shandong Province, 26100, China

    Yueqi Zhang, Guangjian Zhang & Xuecong Chen

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  1. Yueqi Zhang
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  2. Guangjian Zhang
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  3. Xuecong Chen
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Contributions

Chen X had full access to all of the data in the study and took responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: All authors; Acquisition of data: Zhang Y, Zhang G; Analysis and interpretation of data: Zhang Y, Chen X; Drafting of the manuscript: Zhang Y, Zhang G; Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Chen X; Administrative, technical, or material support: All authors; Study supervision: Chen X. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Xuecong Chen.

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Written informed consent was obtained from all patients, and this study conformed to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Weifang People’s Hospital.

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Zhang, Y., Zhang, G. & Chen, X. Elevated Calcium after Acute Ischemic Stroke Predicts Severity and Prognosis. Mol Neurobiol 61, 266–275 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-023-03581-8

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