Body temperature in the acute phase and clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke

by Satomi Mezuki, Ryu Matsuo, Fumi Irie, Yuji Shono, Takahiro Kuwashiro, Hiroshi Sugimori, Yoshinobu Wakisaka, Tetsuro Ago, Masahiro Kamouchi, Takanari Kitazono, on behalf of the Fukuoka Stroke Registry Investigators

This study aimed to examine whether post-stroke early body temperature is associated with neurological damage in the acute phase and functional outcomes at three months.

We included 7,177 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24 h of onset. Axillary temperature was measured daily in the morning for seven days. Mean body temperature was grouped into five quintiles (Q1: 35.1‒36.5°C, Q2: 36.5‒36.7°C, Q3: 36.7‒36.8°C, Q4: 36.8‒37.1°C, and Q5: 37.1‒39.1°C). Clinical outcomes included neurological improvement during hospitalization and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin scale score, 3–6) at three months. A logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between body temperature and clinical outcomes.

The patient’s mean (SD) age was 70.6 (12.3) years, and 35.7% of patients were women. Mean body temperature was significantly associated with less neurological improvement from Q2 (odds ratios [95% confidence interval], 0.77 [0.65–0.99] vs. Q1) to Q5 (0.33 [0.28–0.40], P for trend 37.0°C.

Post-stroke early high body temperature is independently associated with unfavorable outcomes following acute ischemic stroke.