33, 95% CI 1.99-14.25 and 3.04, 95% CI 1.20-7.69, respectively), independent of stroke lesion volume and co-morbid PSD. Medium cSVD burden (score 2) was significantly associated with the odds of having PSD (ORGEE 2.92, 95% CI 1.09-7.78), independent of stroke lesion volume, co-morbid PSA, and pre-stroke depression. No associations were found with lesion-related markers. Conclusions The results suggest that generalised degenerative and vascular brain pathology, rather than lesion-related pathology, is an important predictor for the development of PSA, and less strongly for PSD. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Introduction First-degree relatives of patients with familial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have an increased risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. We assessed whether the type of kinship of first-degree relatives of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients influences this risk. Patients and methods We used all available data from the prospectively collected database of families consulting our outpatient clinic between 1994-2016. We constructed pedigrees for all families with ≥2 first-degree relatives with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The proband was defined as the first family member with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who sought medical attention. We compared both the proportion of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysms in proband’s first-degree relatives by calculating relative risks (RR) with children as the reference. Results We studied 154 families with 1,105 first-degree relatives of whom 146 had aneurysmalsubarachnoid hemorrhage. Unruptured intracranial aneurysms were identified in 63 (19%) of the 326 screened relatives. Siblings had a higher risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (RR1.62, 95% CI1.12-2.38) and parents a lower risk (RR0.44, 95% CI0.24-0.81) than children. Siblings also had a higher risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (RR2.28, 95% CI1.23-4.07, age-adjusted RR2.04, 95% CI1.07-3.92) than children.Conclusion Siblings of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage have a significanthigher risk of both unruptured intracranial aneurysms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and parents have a lower risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage than children. Discussion Type of kinship is a relevant factor to consider in risk prediction and screening advice in families with familial aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Introduction Cerebral small vessel disease is an important cause for both ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. To date, knowledge on the impact of small vessel disease on the clinical course in stroke patients treated with oral anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation is limited. Patients and Methods Registry-based prospective observational study of 320 patients (aged 78.2 ± 9.2 years) treated with anticoagulation following atrial fibrillation stroke. Patients underwent standardised magnetic-resonance-imaging assessing measures of small vessel disease, including cerebral microbleeds and white matter hyperintensities. Median follow-up was 754 (interquartile range = [708-828]) days. Using adjusted logistic and Cox regression, we assessed the association of imaging measures with clinical outcome including recurrent ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage and death and assessed disability (modified Rankin Scale). Results Overall, recurrent ischaemic stroke was more common than intracranial haemorrhage, 95%CI 1.04-3.14, P = 0.04). Discussion and conclusion In atrial fibrillation stroke patients treated with oral anticoagulation, small vessel disease is associated with an unfavourable outcome. The presence of microbleeds indicated a risk higher for recurrent ischaemic stroke than for intracranial haemorrhage. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Introduction Data on the incidence of acute aortic dissection in the code stroke population are scarce. We report estimated incidence, clinical manifestations, treatment and outcomes of patients with an acute aortic dissection in a code stroke cohort from a comprehensive stroke centre. Patients and methods We used data from a single-centre prospective registry of consecutive adult patients who presented to the emergency department between 2015 and 2018 with neurological deficits suggestive of an acute stroke (’code stroke’). All patients routinely underwent non-contrast computed tomography of the brain and computed tomography-angiography of the aortic arch, cervical and intracranial arteries. Results Of 2874 code stroke patients, 1563 (54.4%) had acute ischaemia (ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack). Fifteen patients (0.5% of code stroke patients and 0.8% of patients with acute ischaemia) had an acute aortic dissection (all Stanford classification type A). Discerning clinical manifestations were decreased consciousness in 11/15 (73%), pain in 8/15 (53%) and low systolic blood pressure (mean 106 mmHg, SD30). Acute aortic dissection was an incidental finding during computed tomography-angiography in 4/15 (27%). Two out of 15 patients (13%) received intravenous thrombolysis, 9/15 (60%) underwent aortic surgery and 10/15 (67%) died. Of those who survived, 3/5 (60%) had a good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2). Discussion and Conclusion In our comprehensive stroke centre, about 1/200 code stroke patients and 1/125 patients with acute ischaemia had an acute aortic dissection. Multicentre studies are necessary to acquire a more reliable estimate of the incidence of acute aortic dissection in the code stroke population. Given the ramifications of missing this diagnosis, imaging of the entire aortic arch is important in these patients. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Background There are limited data on the safety of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) for treating acute ischemic stroke in patients with gastrointestinal malignancy or recent gastrointestinal bleeding within 21 days of their index stroke. Aims To evaluate clinical outcomes in patients treated with rtPA for acute ischemic stroke who had gastrointestinal malignancy or recent gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods We identified patients who were treated with rtPA for acute ischemic stroke between 2/2009 and 12/2015 from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke linked to Medicare claims data. Gastrointestinal malignancy and recent gastrointestinal bleeding were defined as any gastrointestinal malignancy hospitalisation within one year prior to acute ischemic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding hospitalisation within 21 days prior to acute ischemic stroke, respectively. Outcomes of interest included in-hospital mortality and bleeding complications. Results Among 40,396 patients aged 65 years or older treated with rtPA for acute ischemic stroke from 1522 sites (mean age [SD] 81.0 [8.1] years; 41.9% women), 136 (0.3%) had gastrointestinal malignancy (n = 96) or recent gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 43). Patients with gastrointestinal malignancy or bleeding had more severe stroke than those without (median NIHSS [interquartile range] 14.0 [8.0-19.0] vs. 11.0 [6.0-18.0]). The rates of in-hospital mortality and life-threatening systemic haemorrhage were not significantly different between those with and without gastrointestinal malignancy or bleeding (mortality 10.3% vs. 9.0%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.01, 95%CI 0.58-1.75; bleeding 2.3% vs. 1.2%, aOR 1.72, 95%CI 0.58-5.11). Conclusions In this observational cohort, we did not find increased risk of in-hospital mortality and bleeding in rtPA-treated patients with gastrointestinal malignancy or recent gastrointestinal bleeding. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Purpose Comorbidity in stroke is common, but comprehensive reports are sparse. We describe prevalence of comorbidity and the prognostic impact on mortality and functional outcome in a large national ischemic stroke cohort. Methods We used outcome data from a long-term follow-up survey conducted in 2016 by the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke). Those included in the study were 11 775 pre-stroke functionally independent patients with first-ever ischemic stroke followed up at three months and 12 months (all patients), and three years (2013 cohort) or five years (2011 cohort). Pre-stroke comorbidity data for 16 chronic conditions were obtained from the Swedish National Patient Register, the Swedish Prescribed Drugs Register and the Riksstroke register. Individuals were grouped according to number of conditions none (0), low (1), moderate (2-3) or high (≥4). Co-occurrence was analysed using hierarchical clustering, and multivariable analyses were used to estimate the prognostic significance of individual conditions. Results The proportion of patients without comorbidity was 24.8%; 31.8% had low comorbidity; 33.5% had moderate comorbidity and 9.9% had high comorbidity. At 12 months, the proportion of poor outcome (dead or dependent mRS ≥3) was 24.8% (no comorbidity), 34.7% (low), 45.2% (moderate) and 59.4% (high). At five years, these proportions were 37.7%, 50.3%, 64.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. There was clustering of cardiovascular conditions and substantial negative effects of dementia, kidney, and heart failure. Conclusion Comorbidity is common and has a strong impact on mortality and functional outcome. Our results highlight the need for health systems to shift focus to a comprehensive approach in stroke care that includes multimorbidity as a key component. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.Introduction Administrative hospital diagnostic coding data are increasingly being used in identifying incident and prevalent stroke cases, for outcome audit and for 'big data’ research. Validity of administrative coding has varied in previous studies, but little is known about the temporal trends of coding accuracy, which could bias analyses. Patients and methods Using all incident and recurrent strokes in a population-based cohort (Oxford Vascular Study/OXVASC) with multiple sources of ascertainment as the reference, we determined the temporal trends in sensitivity and positive predictive value of hospital diagnostic codes for identifying acute stroke from 2002 to 2017. Results Of 1883 hospitalised strokes, 1341 (71.2%) were correctly identified by coding. Sensitivity of coding improved over time for all strokes (ptrend = 0.005) and for incident cases (ptrend = 0.002). Of 1995 apparent stroke admissions identified by International Classification of Disease-10 stroke codes (I60-I68), 1588 (79.6%) used the stroke-specific codes (I60-I61/I63-I64). Positive predictive value was higher with the use of specific codes (83.2% vs. 69.2% for all codes) and highest if combined with the first admission only (88.5%), particularly during more recent time periods (2014-2017 = 90.3%). Of 2254 OXVASC incident strokes, 833 (37.0%) were not hospitalised. Sensitivity of coding increased over time for non-disabling stroke (ptrend = 0.001), but not for disabling/fatal stroke (ptrend = 0.40). Conclusions Although accuracy of hospital diagnostic coding for identifying acute strokes improved over the last 15 years, residual insensitivity supports linkage to other sources in large epidemiological studies. Moreover, differences in the time trends of coding sensitivity in relation to stroke severity might bias studies of trends in stroke outcome if only administrative coding is used. © European Stroke Organisation 2019.