Biliary markers of ischemic stroke and gender differences in China

Introduction. Stroke is one of the most important cause of disability and death worldwide. Ischemic stroke patients account for the majority of stroke patients, which takes large burden to patients’ families. This study aimed to explore the association between cholyglycine (CG), total bilirubin (TBIL), indirect bilirubin (IDBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and incidence of ischemic stroke, and to assess detect gender difference. Methods. This was a case-control and retrospective study, all data was collected from medical records in Fuzhou First People’s Hospital in China. Case group consists of 130 ischemic stroke patients at the Department of Neurology in Fuzhou First People’s Hospital. Control group was 130 patients who didn’t have ischemic stroke in the same period and in the same hospital. In our study, physical examination and clinical history of patients, biochemistry testing indexes of CG, TBIL, DBIL, IDBIL were recorded in medical records. Craniocerebral imaging was examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and/or computerized tomography (CT). Results. The odds for ischemic stroke increased with CG (adjusted OR=3.028, 95% CI=2.065-4.440, p<0.001), TBIL (adjusted OR=1.110, 95%CI=1.031-1.194, p=0.005), SBP (adjusted OR=1.031, 95%CI=1.015-1.048, p<0.001) and FBS (adjusted OR=1.248, 95%CI=1.069-1.457, p=0.005). There was no gender difference in CG, (adjusted OR=3.898 95%CI=2.244-6.773, P<0.001) in males and (adjusted OR=1.901, 95%CI=1.231-2.935, p=0.004) in females. While there were gender differences in TBIL and DBIL, (adjusted OR=1.086, 95%CI=1.004-1.174, p=0.039), (adjusted OR=1.296, 95%CI=1.025-1.637, p=0.030). Conclusion. CG, TBIL, SBP and FBS were independent predictors of ischemic stroke in China. CG seems more sensitive than TBIL as the predictor of ischemic stroke. TBIL and DBIL levels had gender difference with the incidence of ischemic stroke and no gender difference in CG levels.