Background and Purpose—Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Our aim was to examine the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and stroke outcome and to assess whether CKD and its severity affect stroke outcome in a large cohort of unselected patients with acute stroke.

Methods—We examined the association between baseline estimated GFR and CKD and 1-year outcomes in 821 consecutive patients with acute stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic). GFR was estimated by 2 methods: the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and the Mayo Clinic quadratic equation. An estimated GFR rate 60 mL/min/1.73 m² defined CKD.

Results—Odds ratios (95% CI) for death across levels of estimated GFR based on both equations were estimated. CKD was present in 36% (n=291) of patients based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation and 18% (n=147) based on the Mayo Clinic equation. The adjusted ORs for mortality after 1-year based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation were 0.7 (95% CI, 0.4 to 1.2) associated with GFR 45 to 60 and 3.2 (1.7 to 6.4) associated with GFR 15 to 44 as compared with GFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m², whereas those based on the Mayo Clinic equation were 2.3 (1.1 to 4.7) and 3.3 (1.6 to 7.1), respectively. The adjusted ORs for Barthel Index 75 or death after 1 year were 0.8 (0.5 to 1.5) and 2.1 (0.9 to 4.8) by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation and 1.9 (0.8 to 4.4) and 3.9 (1.5 to 11.0) by the Mayo Clinic equation, respectively.

Conclusions—CKD is a strong independent predictor of mortality and poor outcome in patients with acute stroke. The estimation of the prevalence of CKD and of the GFR cutoffs associated with poor outcome depend on the equation used to estimate GFR.