Journal of the American Heart Association, Volume 15, Issue 12 , June 16, 2026. BackgroundWhether comprehensive prestroke risk factor (RF) management—defined by the extent to which existing major RFs meet prespecified treatment and biomarker criteria—is associated with 3‐month functional outcomes after ischemic stroke remains unclear.MethodsWe analyzed patients with ischemic stroke from the CRCS‐K‐NIH (Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea‐National Institutes for Health) registry (2011–2022), a multicenter stroke registry in Korea. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation were considered as major RFs for ischemic stroke. Comprehensive prestroke RF management was categorized as well controlled (all present RFs meeting study‐defined control criteria), partially controlled (some RFs meeting this criteria), or poorly controlled (no RFs meeting this criteria). The primary outcome was 3‐month modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2, indicating functional independence (good outcome).ResultsAmong 63 570 patients with ≥1 major RFs, 28.6% were poorly controlled, 35.6% partially controlled, and 35.8% well controlled. The rate of 3‐month good outcome was 66.0% among those with 1 RF, 60.8% in 2, and 55.0% in ≥3. After multivariable adjustment, both well‐controlled and partially controlled groups had significantly higher odds of achieving good 3‐month outcomes compared with poorly controlled patients, consistently across RF burden strata(well controlled: adjusted odds ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.08–1.25] for 1 RF, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.21–1.48] for 2, and 1.23 [95% CI, 1.03–1.48] for ≥3; partially controlled: 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06–1.26] for 2; 1.22 [95% CI, 1.05–1.42] for ≥3) and in the overall cohort (well controlled: 1.22 [95% CI, 1.15–1.29], partially controlled: 1.14 [95% CI, 1.07–1.22]).ConclusionsComprehensive prestroke RF management, defined by study‐specific treatment‐ and biomarker‐based criteria, was independently associated with a higher likelihood of favorable 3‐month outcomes across levels of RF burden. These findings suggest that effective prestroke management of existing RFs may improve poststroke functional outcomes, regardless of the number of RFs present.
Journal of the American Heart Association, Volume 15, Issue 12 , June 16, 2026. BackgroundWhether comprehensive prestroke risk factor (RF) management—defined by the extent to which existing major RFs meet prespecified treatment and biomarker criteria—is associated with 3‐month functional outcomes after ischemic stroke remains unclear.MethodsWe analyzed patients with ischemic stroke from the CRCS‐K‐NIH (Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea‐National Institutes for Health) registry (2011–2022), a multicenter stroke registry in Korea. Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and atrial fibrillation were considered as major RFs for ischemic stroke. Comprehensive prestroke RF management was categorized as well controlled (all present RFs meeting study‐defined control criteria), partially controlled (some RFs meeting this criteria), or poorly controlled (no RFs meeting this criteria). The primary outcome was 3‐month modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2, indicating functional independence (good outcome).ResultsAmong 63 570 patients with ≥1 major RFs, 28.6% were poorly controlled, 35.6% partially controlled, and 35.8% well controlled. The rate of 3‐month good outcome was 66.0% among those with 1 RF, 60.8% in 2, and 55.0% in ≥3. After multivariable adjustment, both well‐controlled and partially controlled groups had significantly higher odds of achieving good 3‐month outcomes compared with poorly controlled patients, consistently across RF burden strata(well controlled: adjusted odds ratio, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.08–1.25] for 1 RF, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.21–1.48] for 2, and 1.23 [95% CI, 1.03–1.48] for ≥3; partially controlled: 1.16 [95% CI, 1.06–1.26] for 2; 1.22 [95% CI, 1.05–1.42] for ≥3) and in the overall cohort (well controlled: 1.22 [95% CI, 1.15–1.29], partially controlled: 1.14 [95% CI, 1.07–1.22]).ConclusionsComprehensive prestroke RF management, defined by study‐specific treatment‐ and biomarker‐based criteria, was independently associated with a higher likelihood of favorable 3‐month outcomes across levels of RF burden. These findings suggest that effective prestroke management of existing RFs may improve poststroke functional outcomes, regardless of the number of RFs present.