title: Epidemiology of stroke-related disability.
abstract: This article describes basic characteristics and primary outcomes of unselected patients with stroke. These patients were part of the Copenhagen Stroke Study, a prospective, consecutive, and community-based study of 1197 acute stroke patients. The setting and care was multidisciplinary and all treatment was performed within the dedicated stroke unit. Neurologic impairment was measured at admission, weekly throughout the hospital stay, and again at the 6-month follow up. Basic activities of daily living, as measured by the Barthel Index, were assessed within the first week of admission, weekly throughout the hospital stay, and again after 6 months. Upon completion of the in-hospital rehabilitation, which averaged 37 days, two-thirds of surviving patients were discharged to their homes, with another 15% being discharged to a nursing home. Only 4% of the patients with very severe strokes reached independent function, as compared with 13% of patients with severe stroke, 37% of patients with moderate stroke, and 68% of patients with mild stroke.
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kammersgaard
authors.forename: H O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Raaschou
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome