Key Takeaways
- Researchers at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute developed a web-based calculator to estimate a patient’s risk of stroke within 30 days after surgery or a medical procedure.
- The calculator uses information already found in medical records, including age, prior strokes and narrowed blood vessels.
- Hackensack Meridian Health plans to introduce the calculator across medical centers that provide emergency stroke care.
- HMH has three Comprehensive Stroke Centers and nine Primary Stroke Centers across New Jersey.
- If you notice balance loss, vision changes, face drooping, arm weakness or speech problems, call 9-1-1 right away.
AI generated.
About 1 in 4 adults worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Knowing the warning signs of stroke and acting quickly is important for the public. But acting quickly is not only important, but essential for emergency healthcare professionals, nurses, and physicians to provide lifesaving care and prevent lifelong disability.
Professor and Chair of Neurology Shadi Yaghi, M.D., FAHA, Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and a team of researchers developed an innovative, web-based calculator that uses a patient’s existing medical records to accurately predict their risk of suffering a stroke within thirty days after a surgery or medical procedure. Their research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in June 2026. By analyzing everyday health information like age, previous strokes, and narrowed blood vessels, the calculator they developed empowers emergency medicine physicians to quickly identify high-risk patients and customize their pre-surgery care, such as optimizing medications, controlling blood pressure, or delaying elective procedures until it is safer.
Next steps for Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) include developing systems to implement this calculator in all its medical centers providing emergency stroke care. This implementation will enhance this emergency care, in part, by increasing the speed of care delivery. For patients, this personalized and transparent risk-assessment encourages shared decision-making with their doctors, ensuring they fully understand their specific health risks before consenting to an operation. “Ultimately, utilizing this predictive tool allows medical teams to take proactive, life-saving measures that prevent debilitating complications, leading to safer surgeries and better long-term recoveries,” explains Dr. Yaghi. “This will add to HMH’s already robust and nationally recognized stroke emergency and rehabilitative care services, and benefit the New Jersey communities we serve.”
HMH has three Comprehensive Stroke Centers and nine Primary Stroke Centers, certified by the Joint Commission and licensed by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services. The three comprehensive stroke centers, Hackensack University, JFK University and Jersey Shore University medical centers, hold the most advanced stroke care designations and are equipped to treat the most complex cases. All twelve are recognized by the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association for their exceptional, evidence based stroke care.
Stroke affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. People should B.E.F.A.S.T. to identify stroke and take action. Those suffering a stroke experience balance loss, eye changes in vision, face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulties, if this is noticed it’s time to call 9-1-1.
People interested in knowing their stroke risk can visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/healthier-you/2025/05/06/are-you-at-risk-for-a-stroke-take-the-quiz