Supplementary Material for: Risk Factors Associated With Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events After Ischemic Stroke: A Linked Registry Study

Introduction: Survivors of stroke are at risk of experiencing subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). We aimed to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, MACE after first-ever ischemic stroke, by age group (18–64 years vs ≥65 years). Methods: Observational cohort study using patient-level data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (2009–2013), linked with hospital administrative data. We included adults with first-ever ischemic stroke who had no previous acute cardiovascular admissions and followed these patients for two years post-discharge, or until the first post-stroke MACE event. A Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model, accounting for the competing risk of non-cardiovascular death, was used to determine factors for incident post-stroke MACE. Results: Among 5,994 patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke (median age 73 years, 45% female), 17% were admitted for MACE within 2 years (129 events per 1,000 person-years). The median time to first post-stroke MACE was 117 days (89 days if aged 300 beds) for the initial stroke event was associated with reduced incidence of post-stroke MACE, irrespective of age group. Conclusions: MACE is common within 2 years of stroke, with most events occurring within the first year. We have identified important factors to consider when designing interventions to prevent MACE after stroke, particularly among those aged <65 years.