High level of plasma adiponectin in acute stroke patients is associated with stroke mortality

We examined the association between plasma adiponectin (ADPN) levels and cardiovascular mortality in acute stroke patients. We enrolled 552 consecutive acute stroke patients. Measurements were made at baseline and the patients were followed prospectively. The primary endpoint was cardiovascular (stroke or ischemic heart disease) death and the secondary endpoint was all-cause death. During the median follow-up period of 17 months, 39 patients died, 15 being due to stroke. No patients died of ischemic heart disease. After adjustment for age, sex, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia, the highest tertile of ADPN level (> 11.7 μg/ml) was associated with stroke mortality (hazard ratio: 6.55, 95% confidence interval: 1.73–24.8), but not with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio: 1.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.95–3.77). High levels of plasma ADPN can be a predictor of stroke mortality during the 17 months following an episode of acute stroke in patients.