Erythropoietin improves long-term neurological outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients: a randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Table 3 Comparison of short-term and long-term neurological status and long-term clinical outcome between the two groups of patients

Variable	Group 1 ( n = 71)	Group 2 ( n = 71)	P value
NIHSS at 48 hours	7.8 ± 4.5	7.2 ± 4.6	0.606
Barthel Index at 48 hours	55.4 ± 35.2	52.9 ± 29.4	0.631
Short-term (≤90-day) mortality	2.8% (2)	1.4% (1)	0.560
Short-term (≤90-day) recurrent stroke	9.9% (7)	0% (0)	0.007
Barthel Index on day 90	67.1 ± 34.5	70.5 ± 36.2	0.631
Long-term Barthel Index	72.1 ± 40.9	79.2 ± 33.3	0.332
Long-term Barthel Index <40	25.8% (15/58)	8.2% (5/61)	0.021
Long-term Barthel Index <35	29.3% (17/58)	10.3% (6/61)	0.007
Long-term recurrent stroke	23.9% (17)	15.5% (13)	0.206
Major adverse cardiac events^a	9.9% (7)	5.6% (4)	0.346
Accumulative long-term mortality	18.3% (13)	14.1% (10)	0.494
Long-term MANE	49.3% (35)	32.4% (23)	0.04

Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or percentage (number) of patients. Group 1, without erythropoietin treatment; Group 2, with erythropoietin treatment. MANE, major adverse neurological event (defined as, long-term Barthel Index <35, recurrent stroke, or death after day-90 ischemic stroke); NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. ^aDefined as myocardial infarction or death.

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