[Clinical and care implications of the 10-year application of a cerebrovascular diseases register. Descriptive analysis of the last 1000 patients and comparative with the first 1000 patients].
BACKGROUND
There are few studies which analyze clinical and patients' care implications of the continuous application of acute stroke registry.


METHODS
A prospective study was carried out on 2,000 consecutive patients with acute stroke who were admitted in the neurology department over a period of 10 years (1986-1995). A descriptive clinical analysis of the last 1,000 patients (1986-1991) and a comparative clinical analysis between the last 1,000 patients and the first 1,000 patients (1991-1995) were performed. CT scan and/or MRI were performed in all patients. We used a previously validated registry and we studied clinical and assistance implications of its systematic use.


RESULTS
Between the last 1,000 patients and the first 1,000 patients there were significant differences in the frequency of transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) (15% vs 9%; p < 0.0001), lacunar infarcts (20.5% vs 17%; p < 0.04), cardioembolic infarcts (22.3% vs 12.4%; p < 0.0001), infarcts of undetermined cause (7.5% vs 15%; p < 0.0005), intraparenchymatous hemorrhage (9% vs 14%; p < 0.0005), in-hospital mortality (13.8% vs 16.7%; p = 0.07, NS) and mean length of hospital stay (16.5 vs 19.5 days; p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The continuous application of stroke registry brought major interest to the care of stroke patients, resulting in a higher admission rate of TIA patients, a better diagnosis of cardioembolic and lacunar stroke and fewer infarcts of undetermined cause. A decrease in the mean length of hospital stay was observed as well as a lower in-hospital mortality rate.
Arboix
A
A
Unitat de Patologia Vascular Cerebral, Hospital Sagrat Cor-L'Aliança, Barcelona.
Oliveres
M
M
Massons
J
J
García-Eroles
L
L
Bechich
S
S
Targa
C
C
D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution