Schizophrenia may increase risk of cardioembolic stroke, finds JAHA study

A recent study looked into the intricate relationship between schizophrenia and stroke by uncovering the potential links between the mental disorder and specific stroke subtypes. While previous studies hinted at a connection between schizophrenia and stroke, this investigation was marked to be the first to explore stroke subtypes in detail. The key findings were published in the recent edition of the Journal of the American Heart Association.

This study employed two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses and focused on unraveling potential causal associations between schizophrenia and various stroke outcomes, including ischemic stroke, large-artery stroke, small-vessel stroke, cardioembolic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage.

The findings revealed compelling associations between schizophrenia and two specific stroke subtypes the cardioembolic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. After utilizing the inverse variance weighting method, Shinya Nakada and team identified a significant association between schizophrenia and cardioembolic stroke (odds ratio [OR] 1.070 [95% CI, 1.023–1.119]) that suggests a potential causal relationship. The association with intracerebral hemorrhage (OR 1.089 [95% CI, 1.005–1.180]) was observed amidst less robust evidence.

Also, further analyses employed various Mendelian randomization methods that corroborated the link with cardioembolic stroke by underlining the importance of these findings. The evidence for an association with intracerebral hemorrhage was less conclusive across different methodologies.

The implications of this study suggests that individuals with schizophrenia underwent an increased risk of cardioembolic stroke that necessitates careful cardiac evaluation and monitoring within this population. By recognizing and addressing this potential risk factor, the healthcare professionals could potentially reduce the burden of stroke among individuals with schizophrenia. This comprehensive research not only advances the existing understanding of schizophrenia and stroke but additionally highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in healthcare.

Reference:

Nakada, S., Ho, F. K., Celis‐Morales, C., & Pell, J. P. (2024). Schizophrenia and Types of Stroke: A Mendelian Randomization Study. In Journal of the American Heart Association. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.123.032011