Impact of Presenting Symptoms on Treatment Time and Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Starting soon

Conditions studied: Acute Ischemic Stroke, Ischemic Stroke, Stroke

In brief

This observational study aims to understand how the specific symptoms a person experiences at the start of an acute ischemic stroke affect how quickly they receive treatment and how well they recover. In stroke care, rapid treatment is critical because delayed intervention can lead to more severe disability or death. Patients who experience "high urgency" or classic stroke symptoms, such as sudden paralysis, severe facial drooping, or loss of speech, tend to arrive at the emergency room very quickly because these signs are easily recognized by bystanders. In contrast, patients who experience "low urgency" or vague symptoms, such as dizziness, numbness, visual changes, or a new-onset headache, often delay seeking medical care. Because these vague symptoms can mimic other medical conditions, they can lead to delayed diagnosis and longer waiting times for specific stroke treatments. The researchers will observe 120 adult patients admitted for a first-ever acute ischemic stroke. Participants will be categorized into two groups based on whether their initial stroke symptoms were highly urgent or vague. The study will track and compare both groups to evaluate: * The time it takes for patients to arrive at the hospital and receive intervention therapies. * The patients' level of physical disability and independence in daily activities. * The patients' cognitive function. * The total length of the hospital stay, complication rates, and overall survival. Participants will be monitored from the time of their hospital admission through their discharge. To measure long-term recovery and functional outcomes, patients will also complete follow-up assessments at two weeks, one month, two months, and three months after leaving the hospital.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07750847

Run by

Assiut University

People needed

120

Starts

2026-09-01

Expected to finish

2027-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-06

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Patients aged >= 18 years at the time of presentation.
• Confirmed clinical diagnosis of acute first-ever ischemic stroke supported by objective neuroimaging findings via history case taking and emergency CT or MRI scans.
• Hospital admission initiated within 48 hours of initial symptom onset.
• Informed consent provided, signed, and dated by the patient or a legally authorized proxy representative.

You may not qualify if…

• In-hospital stroke onset.
• Diagnosis of a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or presenting stroke mimics (e.g., complex migraines, severe hypoglycemia, conversion disorders, status epilepticus).
• Pre-existing severe functional disability prior to the index stroke event, established as a baseline pre-stroke Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score > 2.
• Co-morbid advanced or terminal medical or neurological or psychiatric conditions with a documented clinical life expectancy of less than 6 months.
• Incomplete medical charts, structural data gaps, or formal withdrawal on baseline assessment or on hospital stay assessment before discharge.

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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