Background: Dehydration has been suggested to influence stroke severity and recovery through mechanisms like increased blood viscosity and thromboembolism risk. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of dehydration at acute ischemic stroke (AIS) onset and assess the impact of different dehydration subtypes on stroke severity.
Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center over a period of one year. Dehydration was assessed using specific biomarkers to check for intracellular dehydration (Group A using urine osmolarity, plasma osmolarity, urine/plasma osmolarity ratio >1.5) and mixed dehydration (Group B using BUN/creatinine ratio >0.20 ) parameters. Stroke severity was evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
Results: Out of 177 AIS admissions, 71 patients met the inclusion criteria (49 males, 22 females; average age: 61.1 years for males, 62.8 years for females). Dehydration was present in 65% of patients at stroke onset. Among dehydrated patients, 33.3% had abnormal Group A parameters, 30% had abnormal Group B parameters, and 36% had abnormalities in both groups. A significant correlation was found between the presence of multiple dehydration markers and increased stroke severity (p < 0.005).
Discussion: The high prevalence of dehydration in AIS patients at onset suggests it may be a potential trigger for stroke and exacerbates stroke severity. Dehydration subtypes, categorized into intracellular, mixed, and extracellular dehydration, have distinct physiological implications requiring specific management strategies. Further research into standardized protocols and innovative biomarkers for dehydration assessment is recommended to enhance patient outcomes.
