ArticleCureus2025
Association Between Serum Cortisol Levels and Clinical Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Prospective Observational Study.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effects of multiple acupuncture therapies on cognitive function and quality of life in stroke patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurologyPooled it
- Association between the Glucose-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Mortality in Patients with Ischemic Stroke: Based on the MIMIC-IV Database.Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) triggers activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in elevated cortisol levels. Cortisol influences glucose mobilization, cardiovascular output, and metabolic responses. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum cortisol levels and outcomes in patients with AIS. Methods This prospective analytical study was conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, over 12 months (April 2023-March 2024). A total of 75 patients presenting with AIS within 72 hours of onset were included. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and serum cortisol levels were measured on admission. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 15 days. Statistical analysis included Student's t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney test, and Pearson correlation. Results The mean age of participants was 59.2 ± 16.4 years, with a male predominance (57.3%). Common comorbidities included hypertension (37.3%), diabetes mellitus (26.7%), and coronary artery disease (34.7%). The average NIHSS score was 10.61, indicating moderate stroke severity. Elevated cortisol levels were strongly correlated with higher NIHSS and worse mRS scores. Patients with cortisol levels >690 nmol/L had more severe strokes, poorer functional outcomes, and higher mortality. Non-survivors demonstrated significantly higher mean cortisol levels (985.8 nmol/L) compared to survivors (726.5 nmol/L). Cortisol elevation also showed associations with hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia. Conclusion Serum cortisol is a reliable prognostic marker in AIS, closely linked to stroke severity, functional outcome, and mortality. Incorporating cortisol measurement into routine evaluation may improve prognostic accuracy and help guide management strategies for better patient care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.