Diabetes is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and may affect post-stroke survival. A recent study published in ‘Journal of Diabetes and its Complications’ revealed that people with diabetes are at higher risk of mortality after first ischemic stroke compared to those without diabetes.

The study was conducted using the population-based National Stroke Registry in Israel. All patients hospitalized for the first event of ischemic were followed for all-cause mortality. Among the 41,639 patients with the first occurrence of ischemic stroke, 44.5% were previously diagnosed with diabetes. The results revealed that diabetes was associated with higher mortality risk in the first year and long term, but not in the first month following stroke. Diabetes-associated mortality risk interacted with time and age, was higher in younger age and increased with time.

According to the researchers, diabetes is associated with a higher prevalence of comorbidities among patients with initial ischemic stroke and with a higher risk for mortality in the mid and long term. The risk is found to be more profound in the younger age group.