[Treatment of ischemic stroke in 14 neurologic stroke units. An evaluation of the stroke databank of the German Stroke Aid Foundation].
This study compares the treatment characteristics of 3,740 patients with acute ischemic stroke in 14 established German stroke units. Follow-up after 3 months in surviving patients additionally assessed functional outcome and risk factor modification. The median age was 68 years and 41.9% were women. Twenty-six percent of all patients were admitted within 3 h after the event, and 4.2% received systemic thrombolysis. The median length of stay of all patients in the stroke unit was 3 days. Thereafter, 63% were transferred to another ward in the documenting clinic. The mean length of stay in the documenting hospital was 12 days. In seven hospitals with a follow-up rate of > 80%, mortality amounted to 10.5%, and 56.2% of the patients regained functional independence. This study demonstrates the relatively favorable prognosis of patients in German stroke units as well as the low standardization of diagnostic work-up and treatment strategies.
Weimar
C
C
Neurologische Klinik der Universität-GHS Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen. stroke.med@uni-essen.de
Glahn
J
J
von Reutern
G M
GM
Kloth
A
A
Busse
O
O
Diener
H C
HC
D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate