Bo Norrving

Lund University | LU · Division of Neurology

The global burden of neurological disorders is substantial and increasing, especially in low-resource settings. The current increased global interest in brain health and its impact on population wellbeing and economic growth, highlighted in the World Health Organization's new Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disor...

Rationale: The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel-aspirin for the large-artery atherosclerotic (LAA) stroke subtype has been debated. Aims: To determine whether the 1-year risk of recurrent vascular events could be reduced by a longer duration of DAPT in patients with the LAA stroke subtype. Methods and study...

To our knowledge, the adoption of Learning Health System (LHS) concepts or approaches for improving stroke care, patient outcomes, and value have not previously been summarized. This topical review provides a summary of the published evidence about LHSs applied to stroke, and case examples applied to different aspects of stroke care from high and l...

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) used in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are dose-reduced in elderly and patients with impaired renal function. Only reduced dose dabigatran is concluded as having similar stroke risk reduction and lower risk of major bleeding than warfarin in the pivotal studies. In clinical practice, reduced dose is prescr...

Background Hypertension is the leading modifiable risk factor for cerebral small vessel diseases (SVDs). Yet, it is unknown whether antihypertensive drug classes differentially affect microvascular function in SVDs. Aims To test whether amlodipine has a beneficial effect on microvascular function when compared to either losartan or atenolol, and w...

Purpose Hematoma volume is the strongest predictor of patient outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study was to validate novel fully automated software for quantification of ICH volume on non-contrast computed tomography (CT). Methods The population was defined from the Swedish Stroke Register (RS) and included all patient...

Introduction: Ischemic stroke (IS) incidence appears to have decreased during the last decades, but most studies focus on first-ever events and epidemiologic data on recurrent stroke are scarce. The aim of our study was to investigate trends in incidence, risk factors and medication in patients with first-ever and recurrent IS between 2010 and 201...

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide and its burden is increasing rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries, many of which are unable to face the challenges it imposes. In this Health Policy paper on primary stroke prevention, we provide an overview of the current situation regardin...

Background: There are no evidence-based recommendations on the optimal time point to initiate non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) after acute ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of early versus delayed initiation of NOAC in these patients. Methods: TIMING (Timing...

Previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of stroke - the second leading cause of death worldwide - were conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry1,2. Here, in cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analyses of 110,182 patients who have had a stroke (five ancestries, 33% non-European) and 1,503,898 control individuals, we identify associ...

Background: Contemporary data on stroke epidemiology and the availability of national stroke clinical registries are important for providing evidence to improve practice and support policy decisions. Aims: To update the most current incidence, case-fatality and mortality rates on stroke, and identify national stroke clinical registries worldwide. M...

Background: We aimed to describe baseline characteristics of patients with oral anticoagulant-related intracerebral hemorrhage (OAC-ICH) in Sweden and to identify predictive variables associated with receiving hemostatic treatment in the event of OAC-ICH. Methods: We performed an observational study based on data from Riksstroke and the Swedish...

Knowledge about stroke and its management is growing rapidly and stroke systems of care must adapt to deliver evidence-based care. Quality improvement initiatives are essential for translating knowledge from clinical trials and recommendations in guidelines into routine clinical practice. This review focuses on issues central to the measurement of...

Purpose We present the first nationwide study on endovascular therapy for basilar artery occlusion (BAO) from early hospital management to 3-month outcome. Methods Data were collected on all acute ischaemic stroke patients registered 2016–2019 in the two national quality registers for stroke care and endovascular therapy (EVT), receiving EVT for B...

Background Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for ischemic stroke (IS) beyond 6 hours has been proven effective in randomized controlled trials. We present data on implementation and outcomes for EVT beyond 6 hours in Sweden. Methods We included all cases of anterior circulation IS caused by occlusion of the intracranial carotid artery, and the M1 or...

Objectives To use data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 (GBD 2019) to estimate mortality and disability trends for the population aged ≥70 and evaluate patterns in causes of death, disability, and risk factors. Design Systematic analysis. Setting Participants were aged ≥70 from 204 countries and terri...

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide and its burden is increasing rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries, many of which are unable to face the challenges it imposes. In this Health Policy paper on primary stroke prevention, we provide an overview of the current situation regardin...

Background: Improving stroke services is critical for reducing the global stroke burden. The World Stroke Organization-World Health Organization-Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke conducted a survey of the status of stroke services in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries. Methods: Using a validated World Stro...

Background and Purpose The evolution of total brain volume early after stroke is not well understood. We investigated the associations between age and imaging features and brain volume change in the first month after stroke. Methods We retrospectively studied patients with acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the AXIS-2 trial. Total brain volume chan...

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide and its burden is increasing rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries, many of which are unable to face the challenges it imposes. In this Health Policy paper on primary stroke prevention, we provide an overview of the current situation regardin...

Rationale Atrial fibrillation causes one-fifth of ischemic strokes, with a high risk of early recurrence. Although long-term anticoagulation is highly effective for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, initiation after stroke is usually delayed by concerns over intracranial hemorrhage risk. Direct oral anticoagulants offer a significantly lowe...

Stroke remains the second-leading cause of death and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (as expressed by disability-adjusted life-years lost – DALYs) in the world. The estimated global cost of stroke is over US$721 billion (0.66% of the global GDP). From 1990 to 2019, the burden (in terms of the absolute number of cases) incre...

Lacunar infarcts are small (<15 mm diameter) subcortical infarcts that result from occlusion of a single penetrating artery. Lacunar infarcts account for approximately one-quarter of all ischemic strokes. Lacunar infarcts are associated with clinical lacunar syndromes, but the specificity of the syndromes is only moderate: lacunar syndromes may be...

Background Regularly updated data on stroke and its pathological types, including data on their incidence, prevalence, mortality, disability, risk factors, and epidemiological trends, are important for evidence-based stroke care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) aims to provide a...

The first European Stroke Organization (ESO) standard operating procedure (SOP) published in 2015 aimed at the implementation the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to provide evidence-based guidelines for stroke management. This second ESO-SOP is aiming at further increase of the practicability o...

Background and Purpose The EFFECTS (Efficacy of Fluoxetine—a Randomised Controlled Trial in Stroke) recently reported that 20 mg fluoxetine once daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome but reduced depression and increased fractures and hyponatremia at 6 months. The purpose of this predefined secondary analysis was t...

Objectives To evaluate incidence of self-reported falls and associated factors in a ten-year perspective after stroke. Methods From a population-based cohort of first-ever stroke patients (n = 416) included in the Lund Stroke Register between March 1, 2001, and February 28, 2002, we performed a follow up of all 145 survivors ten years after stroke...

Background: Improving stroke services is critical for reducing the global stroke burden. The World Stroke Organization (WSO)-World Health Organisation (WHO)-Lancet Neurology Commission on Stroke conducted a survey of the status of stroke services in low and middle income countries (LMICs) compared to high income countries (HICs). Methods: Using a v...

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a rapidly growing field. Short-term safety and efficacy of these procedures have been studied extensively. However, little is known about the safety of these devices over time. Stroke is one feared long-term complication, and an increased stroke rate could affect guidelines for treating both the aort...

Background: Stroke and dementia are interrelated diseases and risk for both increases with age. Even though stroke incidence and age-standardized death rates have decreased due to prevention of stroke risk factors, increased utilization of reperfusion therapies, and other changes in healthcare, the absolute numbers are increasing due to population...

Background and purpose: Functional outcome after stroke may be related to preexisting brain health. Several imaging markers of brain frailty have been described including brain atrophy and markers of small vessel disease. We investigated the association of these imaging markers with functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We retros...

Objective: The timing of brain atrophy after stroke is not well understood. We investigated the associations between age and imaging features and brain volume change in the first month after stroke. Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the AXIS-2 trial. Total brain volume change from hyperacute MRI dat...

Background and Purpose To date, large studies comparing mortality and functional outcome of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) during oral anticoagulant (OAC), antiplatelet, and nonantithrombotic use are few and show discrepant results. Methods We used data on 13 291 patients with ICH registered in Riksstroke between 2012 and 2016 to compare 90-day mo...

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a rapidly growing field. Short-term safety and efficacy of these procedures have been studied extensively. However, little is known about the safety of these devices over time. Stroke is one feared long-term complication, and an increased stroke rate could affect guidelines for treating both the aort...

Background and Purpose Functional outcome after stroke may be related to preexisting brain health. Several imaging markers of brain frailty have been described including brain atrophy and markers of small vessel disease. We investigated the association of these imaging markers with functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke. Methods We retrosp...

Importance Accurate and up-to-date estimates on incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (burden) of neurological disorders are the backbone of evidence-based health care planning and resource allocation for these disorders. It appears that no such estimates have been reported at the state level for the US. Objective To...

Concurrent data on stroke epidemiology are important for preventive actions and healthcare planning. Reliable global statistics have only been available for less than a decade, and signal an urgent need for action to prevent stroke. Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The bulk of stroke burden is borne by developin...

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and dependency in Europe and costs the EU >€30 billion, yet significant gaps in the patient pathway remain and the cost‐effectiveness of comprehensive stroke care to meet these needs is unknown. The European Brain Council Value of Treatment Initiative combined patient representatives, stroke experts, neur...

Summary Background Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a sta...

Background: In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publ...

Background Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardise...

Background The prevalence of ex vivo ‘high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR)’ and its relationship with recurrent vascular events/outcomes in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is unclear.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library...

The Oxford Textbook of Neurologic and Neuropsychiatric Epidemiology is designed to focus on the overlaps and inter-relationships between neuro-epidemiological disorders, as well as on ways to harmonize large cohort studies to maximize opportunities for determining causes related to rarer disorders. Divided into three main parts, the book covers: (1...

Stroke is one of the most common diseases and has several potential consequences, such as psychological problems and pain. Return to work (RTW) after stroke in working-age individuals is incomplete. The present study aimed to investigate differences in self-perceived general health, pain, and depression between 1 and 5 years post-stroke related to...

Background Studies have suggested that fluoxetine could improve neurological recovery after stroke. The Efficacy oF Fluoxetine—a randomisEd Controlled Trial in Stroke (EFFECTS) trial aimed to assess whether administration of oral fluoxetine for 6 months after acute stroke improves functional outcome. Methods EFFECTS was an investigator-led, multic...

Objective This paper aims at examining the clinical characteristics of ischemic stroke patients with different levels of pre‐stroke functional dependency, their long‐term outcome, and determinants of five‐year mortality. Materials and methods We describe demographics, comorbidity, treatment, as well as long‐term mortality, and functional status of...

The Changing Role of the Hospital in European Health Systems - edited by Martin McKee July 2020

Introduction: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most serious adverse effect of oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment. The effect of OAC reversal therapy on outcome is uncertain. We compared 90-day survival and functional outcome in patients with OAC-ICH who received OAC reversal therapy with those who did not. Methods: Data from The Swedish Stroke...

Background and Purpose Intravenous thrombolysis is a well-established treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Our aim was to quantify the effect of each minute delay in door-to-needle time (DNT) on 90-day survival, intracerebral hemorrhagic complication <36 hours, and functional outcomes at 3 months, in routine clinical practice. Methods Our nationwi...

Introduction While acute treatment and secondary prevention in stroke have undergone major improvements, hospital readmission after index stroke remains high. However, there are few reports on long-term readmission patterns. Patients and methods For this prospective observational study, data on demographics, functional status and living conditions...

Following publication of the original article [1], we were notified that one of the corresponding author's affiliations was omitted.

Background: Although it has been established that low socioeconomic status is linked to increased risk of death after stroke, the mechanisms behind this link are still unclear. In this study we aim to shed light on the relationship between income level and survival after stroke by investigating the extent to which differences in stroke severity ac...

Background Data on stroke epidemiology and availability of hospital-based stroke services around the world are important for guiding policy decisions and healthcare planning. Aims To provide the most current incidence, mortality and case–fatality data on stroke and describe current availability of stroke units around the world by country. Methods...

Studies have suggested that fluoxetine might improve neurological recovery after stroke, but the results remain inconclusive. The EFFECTS (Efficacy oF Fluoxetine - a randomisEd Controlled Trial in Stroke) reached its recruitment target of 1500 patients in June 2019. The purpose of this article is to present all amendments to the protocol and descri...

Objective: To determine whether nature-based rehabilitation, as an add-on to standard care, has a long-term influence on post-stroke fatigue, perceived value of everyday occupations, disability, health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression at follow-up 8 and 14 months after randomization. Design: Single-blinded, 2-armed, randomized co...

Background/Objective Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients commonly have concomitant white matter lesions (WML) which may be associated with poor outcome. We studied if WML affects hematoma expansion (HE) and post-stroke functional outcome in a post hoc analysis of patients from randomized controlled trials.Methods In ICH patients from the clinic...

Background: Recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) increases the risk of cognitive decline. To lower the risk of recurrent IS, secondary prevention is essential. Objective: Our aim was to compare post-discharge secondary IS prevention and its maintenance up to 3 years after first IS in patients with and without Alzheimer's disease and other dementia dis...

Background and Purpose: Studies of monthly variation in acute stroke care have led to conflicting results. Our objective was to study monthly variation and longitudinal trends in quality of care and patient survival following acute stroke. Methods: Our nationwide study included all adult patients (≥18 years) with acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhag...

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been proven non-inferior or superior to warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolism, with a lower risk of major hemorrhage, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). We sought to investigate whether effectiveness and safety differs among apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigat...

Background: There is a worldwide development towards using data from hospital-based stroke registers to estimate epidemiological trends. However, incomplete case ascertainment may cause selection bias. We examined the completeness of case ascertainment and selection bias in two hospital-based Swedish stroke registers. Methods: First-ever stroke...

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 (Riksstrok...

Objectives: A substantial proportion of individuals with stroke are of working age. After stroke, it is important to return to work (RTW), both for the individual's satisfaction with life and economically for society. The current comprehensive, long-term study aimed at investigating in what time period the RTW continues after stroke and what facto...

The incidence of stroke and dementia are diverging across the world, rising for those in low-and middle-income countries and falling in those in high-income countries. This suggests that whatever factors cause these trends are potentially modifiable. At the population level, neurological disorders as a group account for the largest proportion of di...

Intracerebral haemorrhage and small vessel ischaemic stroke (SVS) are the most acute manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease, with no established preventive approaches beyond hypertension management. Combined genome-wide association study (GWAS) of these two correlated diseases may improve statistical power to detect novel genetic factors f...

The incidence of stroke and dementia are diverging across the world, rising for those in low- and middle-income countries and falling in those in high-income countries. This suggests that whatever factors cause these trends are potentially modifiable. At the population level, neurological disorders as a group account for the largest proportion of d...