What is the relationship between blood pressure levels and case fatality after acute stroke?
Studies have indicated that there is a U-shaped relationship between mortality and admission blood pressure in patients with acute stroke. Low and high blood pressure are both associated with decreased survival, while moderate blood pressure appears to be linked to better outcomes after a stroke. The International Stroke Trial (IST) also found that mortality was lower in those who had moderate blood pressure levels within the first 24 hours after the onset of stroke. Furthermore, research has shown that a decrease in blood pressure during the acute phase of a stroke is correlated with poor stroke outcome and increased brain injury. 