What determines good recovery in patients with the most severe strokes? The Copenhagen Stroke Study.
OBJECTIVE
Even patients with the most severe strokes sometimes experience a remarkably good recovery. We evaluated possible predictors of a good outcome to search for new therapeutic strategies.


METHODS
We included the 223 patients (19%) with the most severe strokes (Scandinavian Stroke Scale score <15 points) from the 1197 unselected patients in the Copenhagen Stroke Study. Of these, 139 (62%) died in the hospital and were excluded. The 26 survivors (31%) with a good functional outcome (Barthel Index >/=50 points) were compared with the 58 survivors (69%) with a poor functional outcome (Barthel Index <50 points). The predictive value of the following factors was examined in a multivariate logistic regression model: age; sex; a spouse; work; home care before stroke; initial stroke severity; blood pressure, blood glucose, and body temperature on admission; stroke subtype; neurological impairment 1 week after onset; diabetes; hypertension; atrial fibrillation; ischemic heart disease; previous stroke; and other disabling disease.


RESULTS
Decreasing age (odds ratio [OR], 0.50 per 10-year decrease; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.99; P=0.04), a spouse (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 8. 8; P=0.03), decreasing body temperature on admission (OR, 1.8 per 1 degrees C decrease; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.1; P=0.01), and neurological recovery after 1 week (OR, 3.2 per 10-point increase in Scandinavian Stroke Scale score; 95% CI, 1.1 to 7.8; P=0.01) were all independent predictors of good functional outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with the most severe strokes who achieve a good functional outcome are generally characterized by younger age, the presence of a spouse at home, and early neurological recovery. Body temperature was a strong predictor of good functional outcome and the only potentially modifiable factor. We suggest that a randomized controlled trial be undertaken to evaluate whether active reduction of body temperature can improve the generally poor prognosis of patients with the most severe strokes.
Jørgensen
H S
HS
Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. hsj@dadlnet.dk
Reith
J
J
Nakayama
H
H
Kammersgaard
L P
LP
Raaschou
H O
HO
Olsen
T S
TS
D003710:Demography; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome