OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to examine the quality of life in patients who have experienced acute ischemic stroke and were diagnosed using the Brainomix artificial intelligence-based system, under different therapeutic approaches (standard treatment, thrombolysis, thrombectomy).

METHODS: The prospective study included patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke at the Clinical Center of the University of Pécs, Neurology Clinic, selected through convenience sampling between April and November 2022. The patients were grouped based on the treatment received: intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), mechanical thrombectomy (MT), and standard care (SC). Validated questionnaires (Modified Rankin Scale-mRS, NIHSS score, EQ-5D-5L) were used.

RESULTS: A total of 112 participants (70 males, 42 females) were involved in the study. The pre-stroke and 30-day mRS scores significantly worsened in all three groups; however, they still remained in the mild category (IVT: 0.58 vs. 0.97, p=0.029; MT: 0.81 vs. 1.46, p=0.010; SC: 0.74 vs. 1.30, p<0.001). The pre-intervention and discharge NIHSS scores significantly improved in two groups (IVT: 4.11 vs. 1.64, p<0.001; MT: 7.50 vs. 3.54, p<0.001), while the improvement was not significant in the standard care group (SC: 4.28 vs. 3.54, p=0.340). The EQ-5D score significantly increased in one group at 1-3 days post-intervention and at day 30 (MT: 0.70 vs. 0.81, p=0.029), while no significant improvement was observed in two groups (IVT: 0.84 vs. 0.88, p=0.071; SC: 0.75 vs. 0.80, p=0.135). Patients with lower NIHSS scores upon admission (NIHSS≤10) reported better EQ-5D-5L quality of life at day 30 (r: -0.36033).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant improvement was observed at day 30 in the NIHSS score for the MT and IVT groups, and in the EQ-5D quality of life score for the MT group. Consequently, the quality of life of patients diagnosed with the support of the Brainomix artificial intelligence-based system and undergoing MT treatment significantly improved based on both evaluated indicators.