[What sort of stroke requires patient admittance to the hospital? Factors for deciding on hospitalization].
OBJECTIVE
To study main factors determining medical decision in admitting patients with acute cerebrovascular disease (ACVD).


METHODS
This is an observational and transversal study. We analyze a hospitalary cohort made by all consecutive patients with ACVD coming to Emergency Room to Hospital Universitario de la Princesa during 1 year. Neurologist on call made on his/her own decision to admit the patient to hospital. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of those patients admitted with those who went home are compared.


RESULTS
517 patients were studied, 147 had transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and 370 had a stroke, 12.3% TIA and 68.4% stroke patients were hospitalized. Age, Canadian Stroke Scale (CSS) on admission, subtype of stroke, atrial fibrillation and abnormal EKG, old lesions in CT, previous TIA and/or CVD, diminished conscious level, orientation and language, sphincter control and evolution time greater than 48 hours were statistically significative in deciding admission. Logistic regression analysis (84.2% total predictive value) showed independent predictive value in age, CSS, previous CVD and some subtypes of stroke (ischemic non lacunar and hemorrhage).


CONCLUSIONS
We hospitalize younger patients, with a worse clinical condition and overall hemorrhagic stroke. The percentage of admissions among TIA patients is low. On the other hand, date, time and physicians-team features do not affect the percentage of admissions.
León-Colombo
T
T
Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid.
Vivancos-Mora
J
J
del Ser-Quijano
T
T
Fernández-García
C
C
Segura-Martín
T
T
Monforte-Dupret
C
C
Figuerola-Roig
T
T
Sobrino-Vega
M P
MP
López-López
F
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019954:Neurobehavioral Manifestations; D009949:Orientation; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000592:standards*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors