Retrospective cohort study shows smoking increases 90-day mortality but does not enhance functional recovery in acute ischemic stroke patients, suggesting confounding factors.
Key Points
Increased 90-day mortality was associated with smoking status after mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke.
Smoking led to lower modified Rankin Scale scores at discharge and 3 months in initial unadjusted analysis, indicating better recovery.
Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, NIHSS, and other factors showed smoking did not relate to better outcomes or recanalization success.
Further research is needed to explore mechanisms causing mortality risk in smokers after mechanical thrombectomy.