Increase of Meningitis Risk in Stroke Patients in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) not only provides a physical obstruction but also recruits and activates neutrophils in cases of infection. Hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke reportedly induces the disruption of the BBB. However, few studies have reported a correlation between the incidence of meningitis in patients with a history of stroke. This study tested the hypothesis that patients with a history of stroke may be more vulnerable to meningitis.

Methods

Stroke and age-matched comparison (n = 29,436 and 87,951, respectively) cohorts were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database (2000-2011). Correlations between the two cohorts were evaluated by Cox proportional hazard regression model, Kaplan-Meier curve, and log-rank tests.

SUBMITTER: Wang CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5841157 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature