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Acute stroke can increase sympathetic activity, a complication associated with poor outcome. Beta-blockers inhibit the sympathetic response and have been reported to reduce infarct volume in animal models. Researchers conducted this case-control study to examine the effect of beta-blocker use on stroke severity. They analyzed data collected on 111 subjects (average age, 62) within 14 days (median, 3 days) after ischemic stroke onset; 22 subjects had been taking beta-blockers and 89 had not. At study entry, the researchers used power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) to estimate cardiac sympathovagal tone and the Canadian Neurologic Scale to score stroke severity.
Of 22 variables assessed, only beta-blocker use was significant…